4/5
Breathing New Life
Hawkeye used to be The Avenger that some fans made fun of. Captain America was the leader, flying the flag. Iron Man, the Batman like billionaire with suits and tech for days. Thor had the strength of a hammer only he(?) could lift. Hulk was green with envy for anyone who didn't have anger management issues. And as for the Black Widow...daaamn! It seemed like Clint Barton had merely a bow and arrow. That was until the hypnotized star of 'The Hurt Locker' stole the show and had his own sharpshooting one with the 'Hawkeye' Christmas special, fresh off his darker 'Endgame' turn as Ronin. Jeremy Renner has always been a great actor. From 'Arrival' to 'Wind River'. Or his reinvigoration of the 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Bourne' franchises. Even if future friends that feel like family swear he wasn't in some said movies, stabbing with sunglasses. He has even been shooting straight on the small screen as the 'Mayor Of Kingstown' and with his vehicular 'Rennervations' on Disney Plus. Making music between all this with his sweet solos sets, most recently last year's aptly title, 'Love and Titanium'.
None of that mattered on New Year's Day 2023. All that mattered...was his next breath. Jeremy Renner was crushed by a snowcat after saving his nephew from being hit by a snowplow. Renner suffered blunt chest trauma and 38 broken bones. He could even see his eye on the snow as his nephew, neighbours and EMT miles away from this ice tried to save him. Flown by helicopter to the region's only trauma centre, Renner went under the knife and remained in a critical condition in intensive care. Only sixteen days later, he left hospital. Months later, he was on the cover of Men's Health magazine after doctors said he wouldn't run again. And mere months ago, the cheers were deafening and tear inducing as Netflix's 'Tudum' showcase introduced him as a character on Rian Johnson's next 'Knives Out' mystery, 'Wake Up Dead Man', coming to the streaming service, this fall. Nobody would ever doubt who the strongest Avenger was now, like co-star and friend Robert Downey Jr. reading his amazing autobiography, 'My Next Breath', whilst filming his villainous turn in next summer's 'Doomsday'.
Yet, Renner's real recovery was far from as easy as the paragraph I just wrote. Words can't do it justice, only Jeremy's can paint the picture. And in this moving memoir, that Renner didn't want to originally write, he does exactly that. What starts as a fall favourite, beautiful story of a family getting together for the holidays, regardless of any drama or difference, hits you like the full force of the 14,330 pound snowcat rolling over Renner. It's brutal and hard to take, read, or hear, but just imagine what Jeremy went through as he takes you right through it. "Hear" being apt, as the autobiography audiobook version really makes you feel it. From 911 emergency calls from the day, to a special recording that will warm your heart amongst all the ice. Audiobooks from the horse's mouth are always great to hear from, but Jeremy's really strikes a chord. What starts as a rushed read through, this is a busy man, who values family time more than ever now, chokes you up as the man himself does the same. Look what he almost lost as he briefly died on that ice. How could he have a bad day now? He's truly living life every day with every breath he takes. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Reading: Al Pacino - 'Sonny Boy', Matthew Perry - 'Greenlights', Matthew Perry - 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing'.
