I’ve been a long term admirer of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and was deeply saddened by the news of his death last year.  His charisma was polymorphous; he could bring warmth and humanity to even the most detestable character.  One of the first roles I noticed him in was as Allen in Todd Solondz’s Happiness.  Watching him make obscene phone calls to the various women in the film, I wondered, Why do I like this guy?

I’d been considering a series on Hoffman as a long-term project for this blog, but considering his prolific 20+ years making movies, I’m more than happy to let the professionals do the heavy lifting.  God bless Nathan Rabin, whose recent article at the Dissolve presents a comprehensive look at Philip Seymour Hoffman’s career.