Sydney Pollack RIP

Veteran director and actor Sydney Pollack died yesterday. Among his more memorable films were Absence of Malice, Out of Africa, and the American classic Tootsie. During his prolific carreer he produced and directed over 40 films, starred in numerous others and even managed to make appearances on TV shows as diverse as King of the Hill, Will & Grace, and The Sopranos.

Pollack was widely admired and respected by his collegues and peers. Upon his passing, George Clooney said "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly."

Michael Apted commented "Sydney let the dialogue and the emotion of a scene speak for itself. Not given to cinematic tricks, his gentle and thoughtful touch and his focus on the story let us inhabit the world he created in each film." High praise, if you ask me.

Recount, a dramatization of the 2000 election, a film on which Pollack served as executive producer, is now airing on HBO. Made of Honor, co-starring Pollack, is now in theaters.