America has lost a fine actor with the passing of the great James Whitmore. While I am not familiar with all of Whitmore many great roles, I know him well from a memorable part in my favorite movie of all time -- and the best film of all time -- "The Shawshank Redemption", where he played the doomed prison librarian Brooks Hatlan. Whitmore also played Harry Truman in the famous one-man play, and later one-man film about the life of Truman, "Give 'Em Hell Harry." For his portrayal in the latter production, Whitmore became the only man to receive an Oscar nomination for acting in a film with only one actor.
Rest in peace, Brooks.
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We all remember Brooks from Shawshank, but do you remember back when The Practice was a good show (before it ballooned into the monstrosity that it was before the whole thing was canceled this past year)?
I recall Whitmore had a great, great performance as a defendant, a defense attorney himself, accused of murdering his wife. This must have been '98 or '99, at least 10 years ago.
Raymond Oz, his character, insisted on defending himself, and it became increasingly clear he was suffering from dementia, at least to the viewing audience. In a two part cliff-hanger, Oz was ultimately acquitted, thanks in no small part to his amazing oratory and dizzying legal acumen.
If only lawyers actually spoke and carried themselves like Raymond Oz and James Whitmore. They wouldn't be lawyers, probably.
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