"Burt Reynolds: But Enough About Me"

Burt Reynolds is one of those guys you never felt like a homo liking, even though he did this:

In his tell-all memoir he regales us stories of his upbringing in Southern Florida (which I am certain he has given money and effort to the Hurricane relief effort) and to his eventual contentment living there and teaching.

At one point in cinema history, and most kids won't understand, hairy Burt was the biggest star ever. He could tell most producers to pound sand, and loved working with people he could choose to work with. Between him and Clint Eastwood, these two owned the box office in the 70's (Clint does so even to this day). They even made a movie together called "City Heat."

Does this memoir tell you anything you didn't already read into the tabloids had you grew up giving a shit? Not really. He focuses a lot on "Deliverance" which seems to be both his breakout role and somewhat of a description of this book. He taps into the feud between him and Paul Thomas Anderson in "Boogie Nights." And he stands his ground. In the new Hollywood where people are angry and soft or over-zealously blasting Trump (which I'm sure Burt would do...wait, he does...which is mentioned more in terms of the short lived National Football League rival franchise that Trump tanked). He is what we would describe as a "man's man." Who loves the blue-collar over the suits. And cares more about what is beyond the camera. And deep friendships. Most in Hollywood typically shed their old friends, Burt has them from childhood. Which, in their terms makes him a weirdo (fuckin' Hollyweird). He also appreciated guys who drank and made movies (ah Burt, we cudda' been friends). Hal Needham, stuntman turned director was his favorites (of course). Having made his staple "Smoky And The Bandit" a smashing success. He can't eulogize the stuntman genius enough. Neither can I, since most of my opportunities have been through stunt people. According to Burt, Hal's movies always made money. And it also taps into a short lived relationship (but very deep) one with Sally Field. A heartbreak apparently.

I first saw Burt Reynolds in "Cannonball Run" in the movie theaters when it FIRST came out (yes, I'm that old). And I loved the car chases, but Burt always seemed to be smug about everything. I understand some of this would translate to people who take life seriously as annoying. I understand now, it most likely was just a desperate act to make people like him. Now that I am older, the charm is there. He is a good guy. One of the few who won't mince words in his autobiography. Including one where he blasts Loni...not in a malicious way, but that she was a social climber in Hollywood. And a quick glossed over recent (2014) thing about her spiteful nature forcing him to sell some of his assets to pay a debt.

Overall, reading this book reminded me that Hollywood can be won at your own terms if you stick to your guns. Burt (and it's great that you just feel comfortable calling him that, though I would say Mr. Reynolds) really cared about acting. He was in the Actor's Studio for a New York minute because Rip Torn forced him on them. He also reinforces what I've now come to believe, in direction, one most stop thinking you can get into the heads of actors and just let them do.