Peter Bogdanovich, RIP

I keep talking about this because it makes me feel better about not being a director or talented, but so many directing careers have only lasted a few years for one reason or another. I was surprised to realize that Mel Brooks' peak only lasted about five years.

Peter Bogdanovich got off to an extremely strong start but after The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon, and What's Up, Doc, didn't live up to his early promise. It could be that he thought he could do no wrong, but the same thing happens to everyone else. I was surprised to see how much television he directed after 1994.

His gift was getting great performances out of, in many cases, non-actors. He made Cher a movie star.

Peter Bogdanovich died this week at age 82.