Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Transformed

By ROB PATTERSON

Want to see some wonderful TV about movies and TV? The aptly-named “The Last Movie Stars” about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward on HBO is the big ticket to an insightful, reverential and downright loving paean to the actors, their marriage, and the art and craft (it’s both) of acting.

Ethan Hawke directs this celebration of the work and passion that go into both acting for the large and smaller screen and stage as well as making a marriage work for most all of one’s adult life (especially when spouses share a profession). His enthusiastic presence in this series is the beating heart that makes “The Last Movie Stars” thrum like an unforgettable song throughout all its six episodes.

Hawke’s take on telling the tale is smart: gathering keenly-chosen actors from the generations that followed Newman and Woodward to voice readings from interviews done for a never-written Newman memoir. George Clooney reads Newman, Laura Linney voices Woodward, and the cast include such other thespian talents as Zoe Kazan, Karen Allen, Billy Crudup, Vincent D’Onofrio, Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn.

Being more than just the “talking heads” that are *de rigueur* with most docs are Martin Scorsese, Sally Field, Sidney Lumet, David Letterman, James Ivory, Richard Linklater, Ewan McGregor, Newman and Woodward’s daughters and others (including some actors above). In a fashion, Hawke crowdsources his look at the couple to draw in a diversity of viewpoints, albeit all of them showing love and affection for the subjects.

In addition to being an examination of the lives and careers and Newman and Woodward, the series serves as a *de facto* cultural history of American film, TV, drama and acting. As the title implies, the two thespians came into their professions as the Hollywood studio system was on its last legs. It also recounts how serious actors rose through the Actors Studio and the vibrant New York stage and TV drama sphere of those times, which today feels almost archaic. It was a time when, even with the aspirations for fame that are nearly part and parcel of acting, excelling at the art of treading the boards was the primary goal for most aspirants.

“The Last Movie Stars” also offers a master class in the dramatic arts with its many practitioners commenting on the work two truly stellar talents that they admired, emulated or took cues from in their own work. It’s also a illuminating display of the sorts of films that were made in the 1950s and ‘60s – vastly different from what gets made today through the Hollywood industry.

As well, the series serves as a seminar on how a longterm marriage between two strong, dynamic and talented souls can succeed through the travails, challenges and tragedies (Newman’s son Scott from his first marriage died from a drug and alcohol overdose) that we all face in life. Newman and Woodward worked at making their love and partnership endure. We all should be so dedicated and devoted.

Ultimately, both of them were highly accomplished and gifted humans, and very human at that, with their flaws and issues. Yet fine exemplars of lives well-lived and good people who gave back to others who were less fortunate (I like and buy Newman’s Own pasta sauces and Fig Newmans, from which 100% of the profits benefit kids.)

Hawke’s passion for his work and that of his artistic forebears drives this six-segment longform doc in a loving and vital way that adds to both the pleasure of watching it and the lessons and insights on can glean in the process. I expect by the time his own always finer and richer acting and directing career runs its due course he’ll also deserve such an excellent account of his life and work.

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Rob Patterson is a music and entertainment writer in Austin, Texas. Email robpatterson054@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, November 15, 2022

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