Jeff_Jewell's Blog

Like many people, I was saddened by the news of Charlton Heston's death.  I was raised on films like The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur and Touch of Evil, and I still enjoy Heston's over-the-top performances in several meaty roles.  As I got older, I saw more ham than anything else, but his characters are indelible, and the impact of his films cannot be measured. 

However, like many people, I was troubled by his politics in the late period of his life, and like many people, I let that color my perception of his character creations.  I began to hear in his Moses the same bellowing windbag that loudly proclaimed the evils of gun control, even as innocent people continued to die because of the ready availability of firearms.

But it's easy to forgive a once-honored public figure after he dies, and to remember all the good things he accomplished.  Once we have a reason to look back at the entire spectrum of a person's career, it seems fitting to focus on the positive, and to gloss over the events that caused controversy.  As a result, we have been treated to retrospectives overflowing with goodwill, and celebrations of a body of work many consider among the best the movies have to offer.

And I think this is right, specifically when it comes to actors.  Actors' personal lives and philosophical ideas are of little interest to most reasonable people, and I think they should have little bearing on the enjoyment of the movies.  Heston's political life, including his disastrous appearance in Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine, doesn't take a single thing away from the supremely entertaining Planet of the Apes, or the masterpiece that is Ben Hur. 

So here's my question: If we can remember Charlton Heston, or any controversial figure, with fondness, isn't it right to ignore the obnoxious antics of someone like Mel Gibson?  Here's a guy whose reputation lies in ruin, yet his Hollywood persona is similar to Heston's.  Tough action heroes and epic historical figures are his bread and butter, and he's played several iconic characters, from Mad Max to William Wallace to Martin Riggs.  I really like him as an actor and director, and I'd never let his behavior keep me from seeing one of his films.

What do you think?