›› TALKiNG PiCTURES
Captains courageous Even dopey pirate movie has poignancy to family fighting cancer by Davi d Te mp l e ton
Writer David Templeton takes interesting people to interesting movies in his ongoing quest for the ultimate post-film conversation. This is not a movie review; rather, it’s a freewheeling, tangential discussion of life, alternative ideas and popular culture.
norcalpiratefestival.com), which sails in for its fifth assault on the Bay Area June 18 and 19. In recent months, though, Weissman has been focusing on various fundraising activities. Specifically, he’s working to raise money for the health fund created was a little confused,” says actor to help his wife, Kimbell Jackson, who’s Jeffrey Weissman, referring to the been fighting brain cancer since she was appearance of Geoffrey Rush in diagnosed with central nervous system the new film Pirates of the Caribbean: On lymphoma—detected when an MRI Stranger Tides, in which Rush plays Caprevealed tumors in her brain, causing tain Barbossa, the anti-hero foil of Johnny severe migraines, dizzy spells and partial Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. “Wasn’t Bar- paralysis. bossa killed at the end of the first Pirates of Last week, a major fundraising event the Caribbean movie?” Weissman asks. took place in Sonoma County, where the “He was,” I affirm. “But then he was res- couple lives, and just yesterday, Jackson enurrected at the end of the second movie.” tered the hospital for a new round of treat“Lucky guy!” ment. It was partly Weissman says. to have something “I’d totally forgotto do after dropten that, but then ping his wife off at there’s very little the hospital that of the second and Weissman consentthird movies that ed to see Pirates. I actually remem“It was certainly ber. They had less distracting,” he substance than laughs. “And that the original, and I can be a good think that’s true of thing. The film had this fourth movie plenty of spectacle, as well. It was enthat’s for sure. I tertaining. It was loved it when the a big fluffy romp. mermaids took But these films are down the small looking more and boat with all the more like what pirates on it! they are—movies “I loved the inspired by a theme way they were so park ride.” beautiful when Weissman they pop up from It takes a lot of guts to deride a dubious movie sequel while (www.jeffreythe water,” he dressed as a giant lobster. weissman.com) continues, “and has contributed to his share of theme park then underwater they become these evil, ride experiences—and also knows his way vampiristic piranha-women. In spite of around sequels. He appeared in the second everything, those mermaids really know and third Back to the Future films, playing how to do their makeup and hair, don’t an uncanny copy of the character origithey?” nated by Crispin Glover in the various “They must have discovered some inalternative flashbacks visited by the timecredible makeup line,” I observe. “Makeup traveling Michael J. Fox. For the last three that never melts off in the water.” years, he’s also appeared as the ghostly “Maybelline has been trying to get their Hobo in the annual live theatrical re-crehands on it for years, I’m sure,” Weissman ation of The Polar Express at the California laughs. “Esther Williams probably had a State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, whole slew of underwater bathing beauties a popular experience that’s a bit like a searching for the mermaids’ secret makeup theme ride sprung to life. Weissman—also formula.” a much-in-demand Stan Laurel imper“To be fair, though,” I point out, “the sonator—has played his share of pirates, use of makeup in this movie extends way too, appearing regularly at the Northern beyond the mermaids. Most of the pirates California Pirate Festival in Vallejo (www. wore heavy eyeliner, too, from Captain
“I
18 PACIFIC SUN MAY 27 - JUNE 2, 2011
How many ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ sequels will it take before fans abandon ship?
Jack to the new guy, Blackbeard, a pirate so evil he makes mascara look mildly Satanic. Though I suppose Alice Cooper has already done that.” “Pirates, you know, actually saw makeup as an extension of tattooing,” Weissman says so seriously I’m not sure whether he’s joking or not. “It’s a tribal thing. Pirates were like rock stars, and we know how much they like to wear heavy makeup. Keith Richards [who plays Captain Jack’s dad in the film] even shows up to demonstrate this.” As someone who’s dressed up in the hat, boots and jacket of a pirate many times, Weissman has experienced firsthand the odd swaggering glee that comes with transforming oneself into a pirate, walking that walk and talking that talk. “Most people are good people,” he explains, “but we wonder what it would be like to be bad. Playing a scallywag allows your soul to expand out in new directions, giving your soul the freedom to find new parts of itself and express them. That’s what acting does, of course, but with some types of characters, it’s even more fun, and more freeing, than with others. Pirates are like that. Of course, for me, dressing up as Lobster Man has the same effect.” Lobster Man is a character Weissman has played at the Pirate Festival as well as numerous Renaissance Faires and the Dickens Christmas Fair. In Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, a major part of the plot involves a search for the Fountain of Youth, which has the power to take the remaining years from one person and add them to the life-span of another. It’s a strangely potent theme for Weissman, given the life-anddeath struggles he’s been sharing with his wife over the last several months. “It’s funny, sometimes,” he says, “and I mean that literally, because you have to keep a sense of humor, no matter how
bad things get. Even Kimbell, when the treatments have gotten so bad she can’t stand it, is occasionally able to laugh at the things she does. “So the Fountain of Youth theme, yes, it did hit me a bit,” he goes on. “Life is such a wonderful thing, and sometimes it takes the threat of losing life, or losing those you love, to really appreciate all the dumb little things that make life worth living. Silly movies, funny voices, stupid jokes, music on the radio, the voice of a friend on the phone. “Life is definitely precious,” Weissman says, “even when it gets a little ridiculous.” ✹ Donations to the Kimbell Jackson Health Fund can be made through Jeffrey Weissman’s website: www.jeffreyweissman.com.
Weissman, demonstrating the ‘odd swaggering glee’ that comes with dressing as a pirate, at the annual festival in Vallejo.
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