RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY • 35 YEARS
In Their Own Words
WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE PERSONALITIES WHO ’ VE GRACED THE PAGES OF RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY OVER THE YEARS .
Buddy Cianci , July 1989 “ If I were ever to seek public office again , I ’ d be a better public official for the experience , for being able to look back and say , ‘ Hey , did I do all that stuff ? Did I really act like that ?’”
Bruce Sundlun , February 1992 “ I know how to take a bad situation and straighten it out . You ’ ve got to have an instinct and you ’ ve got to stick to it . Every damn thing I ’ ve been mixed up in has been a turnaround .”
Vinny Pazienza , December 1993 “ You know , I was never a great athlete . A good athlete , but not a great athlete . In many ways , I ’ m just an ordinary guy who has driven himself beyond his limitations .”
Ben Mondor , August 2001 “ When it ’ s quiet [ at McCoy Stadium ], I walk around the park alone . I stand in center field and I remember all the players who ’ ve gone through here — from Carlton Fisk and Jim Rice to Mo Vaughn and Nomar Garciaparra . I tend to relive the past . And what a past it was .”
Bob Ballard , November 2005 “ Everyone thinks the Earth has been explored . The generation of middle school kids in Rhode Island , that entire generation in general , will explore more of the Earth than all the previous generations combined .”
Ed Cooley , December 2011 “ I ’ m one of those guys who always want to become something . I always want to prove people wrong . The more I hear you say I can ’ t , the more I tell myself I will . If someone tells me I can ’ t do something , that ’ s the wrong message . Because I will go sleepless nights until I figure it out .”
Jack Reed , November 2012 “ We were able to defeat fascism and able to avoid a nuclear exchange in the Cold War . We were able to do a lot , and it was basically on a bipartisan level . On a personal level , too , there was something in common . And now there ’ s less and less of that . It ’ s more , ‘ You ’ re bad ; I ’ m good . I ’ m the only person who understands the truth and you don ’ t .’”
Richard Jenkins , August 2014 “ I have no skills . I ’ m not being modest — it ’ s the truth . I drove a laundry truck one summer , and I had five accidents . One time , I wasn ’ t even in it . I came back and the truck was gone .”
Gina Raimondo , December 2014 “ Don ’ t allow cynical people to hold you back . You have to believe that great things can be accomplished and even though there are obvious obstacles , you have to figure out a way to get over the obstacles , solve problems and make things happen .”
Viola Davis , November 2018 “ There is a place inside all of us — I don ’ t care how kumbaya this sounds — it ’ s a voice . Everyone has it . With women and girls , we call it intuition . With me , I call it authenticity . And there is a place that ’ s inside you that tells you exactly what you want and exactly who you are . And that ’ s the only voice you need to listen to .” — Compiled by Lauren Clem
Flashback Flicks
FILMS CONSIDERED WORTHY ENOUGH TO SHOOT IN THE OCEAN STATE .
1974 : The Great Gatsby Based on the 1925 novel of the same name , The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway as he becomes fascinated by the lavish lifestyle of his neighbor and is drawn into his circle , only to witness obsession and tragedy . STARRING : Robert Redford , Jack Clayton , Mia Farrow , Bruce Dern and Sam Waterston FILMING LOCATIONS : Rosecliff Mansion in Newport and Linden Place in Bristol
1994 : Dumb and Dumber This Farrelly brothers ’ classic features two not-so-bright friends from Providence who embark on a journey to Aspen , Colorado , to return a briefcase full of money to its rightful — and beautiful — owner . STARRING : Jim Carrey , Jeff Daniels and Lauren Holly FILMING LOCATIONS : Providence and Cumberland
1994 : True Lies A secret agent tracks down nuclear missiles to protect the United States and discovers his wife may be having an affair with a used-car salesman .
STARRING :: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Arnold FILMING LOCATIONS : Rosecliff and Ochre Court mansions in Newport
1997 : Amistad In 1839 , the Amistad sails from Cuba to America carrying African slaves as its cargo , but the captives successfully mutiny , forcing the courts to decide if they are legally free citizens of another country or runaway slaves . STARRING : Djimon Hounsou , Anthony Hopkins , Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey FILMING LOCATIONS : Old Colony House and Fort Adams in Newport
2000 : Me , Myself and Irene A Rhode Island state trooper with multiple personalities is tasked with protecting a woman on the run from her ex-boyfriend and corrupt police officers in this Farrelly brothers film . STARRING : Jim Carrey and Renee Zellweger FILMING LOCATIONS : Newport , Jamestown and Narragansett
2007 : Dan in Real Life A widower and single father finally finds love again during a trip home for a family gathering — but things get complicated when he learns the object of his affections is actually his brother ’ s girlfriend . STARRING : Steve Carell and Dane Cook FILMING LOCATIONS : Seven Stars Bakery in Providence , Ocean Avenue in Newport and Misquamicut Beach in Westerly
2008 : 27 Dresses After being a bridesmaid twenty-seven times , Jane wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister ’ s side … especially since she ’ s marrying the man Jane secretly loves .
48 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MARCH 2023