Michael Caine - Acting in Film: An Actor's Take on Movie Making (The Applause Acting Series) Revised Expanded Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)If you like movies, this book is a great read. If you're interested inacting in movies, it's an essential read. If you're interested inmoviemaking (behind the camera), it's still an essential read: buy extracopies to pass around on the set, especially if you're a strugglingfilmmaker and you have a cast of friends who've never acted before.
As ateacher, Caine is as straightforward as he is as an actor. You watch hisperformances and you're seeing an actor who understands that less is more.You read this book and you're listening to an instructor who understandsthe same thing. Every anecdote he tells about films he's been in and starshe's worked with is not just namedropping, it's ALWAYS relevant to whateverhelpful point he's making about the craft of film acting. And to him it isvery much a craft, not an art. The art takes care of itself; it happensmysteriously, but it can only happen if you nail the craft first. Noarty-flighty book about acting theory or the Method, this is aworking-class, meat-and-potatoes manual that anyone can relate to, muchlike its author.

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A master actor who's appeared in an enormous number of films, starring with everyone from Nicholson to Kermit the Frog, Michael Caine is uniquely qualified to provide his view of making movies. This new revised and expanded edition features great photos throughout, with chapters on: Preparation, In Front of the Camera - Before You Shoot, The Take, Characters, Directors, On Being a Star, and much more."Remarkable material ... A treasure ... I'm not going to be looking at performances quite the same way ... FASCINATING!"- Gene Siskel

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Acting in Film (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)For a student of film acting, this DVD is a rare chance to get good, solid, practical advice from a successful working actor.Mr. Caine presents information in a down to earth and entertaining way to both a panel of students and a studio audience.

My only complaint is that it should have run longer than 1 hour.I realize that the production was bound by the restraints of the television series, but as a DVD release more could have been included.

Highly recommended as is Mr. Caine's companion book 'Acting In Film'.

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Mr. Caine gives you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to rob him blind! The man who's hypnotized the camera lenses for a quarter of a century reveals the most closely guarded secrets on script preparation. working with the director, forming a character, voice, sound, and movement. Pearl by pearl he lays out the Caine wisdom on everything from set politics to set decorum, the film bureaucracy and more!A treasure ... I'm not going to look at performances quite the same way ... A grand entertainment with more drama than most movies ... He's a marvelous teacher ... A real clear-cut lesson that every critic should see and everbody who goes to the movies should see... - Gene Siskel, Siskel & EbertI watched the video and had my doubts ... I thought a lot of what he said was horseshit, but halfway through the movie I thought: The son of a bitch is right! -Howard Stern

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The Gangster Film Reader (Softcover) (Limelight) Review

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(More customer reviews)The rise of the popular gangster film genre began in the early 1930s to reflect the real history and rise of gangsterism in American society, producing early classics which would be released back to back, were modeled on newspaper and real-life situations, and which would bring gangsterism to the public eye by defining and surveying notorious personalities and groups. GANGSTER FILM READER reviews the genre through reprints of key articles, new essays and critical analysis produced for this collection, and over 200 original photos. Film libraries will consider it a 'must', while many a college-level library on social issues will also find the topic relevant to 20th century American history discussions.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

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In the 1930s the gangster film in the United States coincided with a very real and very sensational gangsterism at large in American society. Little Caesar (1931), The Public Enemy (1931), and Scarface (1932) borrowed liberally from the newspapers and books of the era. With the release of just these three motion pictures in barely more than a year's time, Hollywood quintessentially defined the genre. The characters, the situations, and the icons-from fast cars and tommy-guns to fancy fedoras and fancier molls-established the audience expectations associated with the gangster film that remain in force to this day. As with their Film Noir Reader series, using both reprints of seminal articles and new pieces, editors Silver and Ursini have assembled a group of essays that presents an exhaustive overview of this still vital genre. Reprints of work by such well-known film historians as Robin Wood, Andrew Sarris, Carlos Clarens, Paul Schrader, and Stuart Kaminsky explore the evolution of the gangster film through the 1970s and The Godfather. Parts 2 and 3 comprise two dozen newer articles, most of them written expressly for this volume by Ursini and Silver. These case studies and thematic analyses, from White Heat to the remake of Scarface to "The Sopranos," complete the anthology.

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The Battle of Brazil: Terry Gilliam v. Universal Pictures in the Fight to the Final Cut (The Applause Screenplay Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Based on the reviews so far, I bought this book from Amazon.com and received it yesterday. It was so gripping, I finished it that evening. After seeing films like THE PLAYER and talking to aquaintences who likepredictable movies with happy endings, I figured the big studiosdiscouraged original, thought-provoking films. But this book shows how theytry to rationalize it. I liked how Jack Mathews tried to be objective andshow both sides and I was amazed at the differences between LA and NYcritics and how they affect films. Talk about too many cooks in thekitchen!
Even if you don't think much of the film BRAZIL, if you loveinteresting films and want to know why it's rare to see one come out, readthis book. I'm sure Terry Gilliam isn't alone in his battles with studiosand critics. If you did like BRAZIL, you'll also get a glimpse of Gilliam'screativity with some of his storyboards, plus you get the entire script ofthe film with some annotations. After reading this book, I got a greatbehind-the-scenes look of not only how a film comes about, but how it getsmarketed to the public as well.

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The totally restored, revamped and researched blow-by-blow recounting of the most spectacular title bout in the blood-soaked history of Hollywood. "This book documents in rare detail the back-room haggling and the attempted ego-bashing that is part of the movie business." - Gene Siskel; "Told with the passion of an advocate yet with the objectivity of a crack reporter, The Battle of Brazil is a chilling, inevitably hilarious account of a great film that almost got away." - USA Today.

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Original Story By: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a beautifully written book!I loved every page of this book and I heartily commend Laurents for making me feel what it was like to be a gay man in the forties and fifties who just happened to know most of the greatsof New York and Hollywood! it's a cliche but my advice is to run out andbuy this incredible book! Thank you, Mr. Laurents!

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Ferber: Edna Ferber and Her Circle: Paperback Book (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Biography written by a family member or friend so often is mere hagiography, not good biography. But the book by Julie Gilbert, Edna Ferber's great-niece, was the only Ferber biography I could find, so I decided I would start there to learn about Ferber, and I'm really glad I did. Is the Gilbert book objective? Of course not. No one writes objective biography.

I applaud Gilbert for her courage in presenting Ferber as a real person, exposing the extremes of her personality. Ferber was outsized-she had a benevolent heart coupled with colossal rage: "When Ferber got worked up over an issue, there was nobody who could touch her. She was a dervish of indignation. When she was calm she exuded power; when she was upset she exuded great power." Katherine Hepburn, twenty years Ferber's junior, says: "We were dangerous women. There aren't any more of us around."

I give the book only four stars for two reasons: One, becauseI wish Gilbert had included photos. I love the image that Gilbert writes of Ferber and her sister Fan looking together like a Diane Arbus photo: "visually similar and visually sour." A picture of these two together would have added a lot to the book; and two, because Gilbert doesn't include sources. Perhaps most of Ferber's papers are still in the family's control; regardless, I would like to have known where Gilbert found her information.

That being said, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in Edna Ferber, and also in New York, theater, and party life of the 1930s. Whee, Ferb! Wot a girl!

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This enduring biography of the popular writer begins with Ferber's last years in New York City, exploring the setting in which she did all of her great writing. Diaries, copious correspondence, and the cooperation of distinguished living friends have resulted in a rich portrait of a period and a literary circle not yet fully documented, and an insightful engaging analysis of a woman writer highly influential in the shaping of twentieth century America.

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Dear Boris Softcover Review

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(More customer reviews)William Henry Pratt aka Boris Karloff was perhaps one of the most underated and illused actors in film history. Cynthia Lyndsay's book provides a most personal and loving journey into this gentleman's life. Included too in her portrait is a concise history of acting in the early 20th century as well as a detailed portrait of the actor's craft. Karloff was the consumate professional on stage and screen and off. This book is highly reccomended for any interested in the craft of acting.

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This chatty biography, written with the cooperation of the late actor's family, is crammed with anecdotes, personal opinions, and warm humor, said our reviewer (LJ 2/15/76) of this portrait of the horror star, who played every baddie from Frankenstein's m

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John Simon on Film: Criticism 1982-2001 (John Simon On--) Review

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(More customer reviews)John Simon is a maddening individual. He is the premier example on what William Goldman called the "Supercritic". This is one who seems to always find merit in works the majority of his/her colleagues dismiss, and grandly dismisses works most others praise. It would seem, therefore, that he should be likewise easy to dismiss... except for two things.
First, even when he is tearing apart a much beloved film or praising some dismal exercise, he's, well, right! That is, his points are always on the mark and exceedingly well argued, This can hurt, albeit briefly, any future viewings of a favorite film, and, probably, enhance viewings of a "dog" (I say "probably" because life's too short to test out this latter proposition). Second, he is. without doubt or peer, the most brilliant, witty, and pithy writer on (pick your subject-he's written on them all) Music, Theater, Books, or, as in this case, Film, not only of our time but, arguably, of all time.
Sure he's uncommonly (and unnecessarily) cruel to those he dislikes, commenting not only on their abilities (fair game), but on their looks, intelligence, life-style, what-have-you.
And, sure, he can be so maddeningly erudite that you know he's using words and phrases whose meaning only he can tell. But, those words! That wit! Do NOT start reading this 700+ collection of some two decades of reviews unless you've lots of time at your disposal, because once you start, you will NOT be able to stop,

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"I find John's critical writing immensely entertaining even when I'm not in agreement... He has the gift, such a rare one, of being able to analyze the work in question, to be able to say why it is that it's so powerful, so touching; or, on the othe

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A Killer Life: How an Independent Film Producer Survives Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond (Limelight) Review

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(More customer reviews)As an aspiring producer, I have long looked up to the indie queen Christine Vachon, and I was interested to read this book after having read her excellent SHOOTING TO KILL.I read that book when I was back in college, but this book is better.It's definitely more personal - in a way it reads like a memoir.

You feel like you are going through all the trials and tribulations with her.There's a lot of exciting stuff here - she battles the MPAA over Boys Don't Cry -- the bond company takes control of Far From Heaven-- shehas interactions with big stars like Jude Law and Julia Roberts.
I have never been to Sundance, but Vachon's Sundance diary takes you through that festival with her.

All this makes for a book that's immensely readable; I couldn't put it down.I really liked the spotlights from other industry figures, agents, studio heads and directors like John Cameron Mitchell (who did my favorite film, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH!)If you are in the industry, want to learn about the industry or are just plain curious about how movies get made, go out and get this book now!

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William Goldman: Five Screenplays (Applause Screenplay) Review

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(More customer reviews)Just go ahead and try to write a screenplay like William Goldman and you'll get slammed!
Yet despite the "flowery phrasing" the author of some of cinema's greatest screenplays is a master at getting you to play the movie in your head! It's the great ones that get to break the rules.
Every script is an enjoyable read, instantly and visually compelling, and a real lesson for writers on how to use language to give Actors, Directors, Cinematographers, and Script supervisors what they need to know as poetically and economically as possible.
I particularly enjoyed reading about the decisions that went into the making of The Great Waldo Pepper. As a kid, this movie really turned me around. It was a life affirming tragedy and it painted an emotional picture of a man's life using every color on this writer's pallette. Worth the price for this one alone!
All the essays prefacing the screenplays are a fascinating read, and a window into a facet of film history.

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A collection of five screenplays by this Academy Award-winning writer. Includes: All the PresidentÕs Men ¥ Magic ¥ Harper ¥ Maverick ¥ The Great Waldo Pepper. Also features essays by Goldman: "Getting Even or Creative Accounting," "Sneak Previews, or Why Did She Have to Die?," "Hype or Consequences: A Brief History of the Future," "Shooting from the Hip: DonÕt You Know Anything About Screenwriting?," and "Nothing for Me to Steal: The Secret Life of an Adaptation."

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Getting the part - Thirty-Three Professional Casting Directors Tell You How to Get Work in Theater, Films, and TV (Softcover) (Limelight) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was by far the best I have read on auditions. It let me know how to act and what to do and not do to get a directors attention. I reccomend this book to anyone and everyone who are looking for an acting job.

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"At last, an in-depth book about the casting process that tells actors what it is like to be on the other side of the desk, and a must read for the aspiring casting director!" -Marilyn Henry, coauthor, How to Be a Working Actor

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Nobody's Perfect: Billy Wilder, A Personal Biography (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)There is no one wilder in Hollywood than Billy - Billy Wilder, that is.  And the new bio of him, "Nobody's Perfect: Billy Wilder: A Personal Biography," is as close to the "perfect" non-critical, fun history of a man and his movies. Written by Charlotte Chandler (whose previous works include "I, Fellini" and "Hello, I Must Be Going: Groucho and His Friends"), the tome is based on interviews she conducted with Wilder and his friends over a period of years. The result is a wonderful kaleidoscope of movies, politicians, actors, geniuses and louses. From Sigmund Freud to Louis B. Mayer, from Richard Strauss to Joan Fontaine, from Prince Yussupov to Walter Matthau --- Wilder knew them all. He is the man who put Marilyn Monroe over a subway grate, Jack Lemmon in a dress and Gloria Swanson in the most famous close-up of them all. The great beacon shining through the entire book is, of course, the wit and humor of the man.  Wilder is certainly one of the great comic directors of all time, and his legacy is astounding. By structuring the book around the subject's work in a strictly chronological manner, Chandler creates a picture of Wilder that is at once true and wildly engrossing. The early stories about journalism in pre-war Berlin are as fascinating as the later tales of success in glittering Hollywood. That the last 20 years of his life, arguably the most creative time in an artist's life, were spent without a single film project is the underlying tragedy of this book, and Chandler doesn't exactly dwell on it, but the painful reality is certainly there. We like to think of him as this way: Billy Wilder, Somebody's Perfect. (Submitted by staff member Stephen J. Finn)

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