tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post211000284010408781..comments2023-11-28T15:20:59.369-05:00Comments on Cinema Viewfinder: Writings on CinemaTony Dayoubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-87534105411147243892009-06-15T21:01:20.891-04:002009-06-15T21:01:20.891-04:00Gosh, what a good list. I wish I would have thoug...Gosh, what a good list. I wish I would have thought of the last decade of Film Comment...that's certainly some terrific film writing! Makes me wanna go back and revise my list. I really wanna get that Lynch book--it seems really concise and heartfelt. Oh, and thanks for the update on what Peary is doing these days. It was a mystery for me, until now. Great stuff!Dean Treadwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02106829300132326368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-42360324009997229892009-06-01T09:27:51.663-04:002009-06-01T09:27:51.663-04:00Good call on FILM COMMENT during those years. I lo...Good call on FILM COMMENT during those years. I loved the mag back then as well, esp. their in-depth interviews with Tim Burton and Quentin Tarantino for ED WOOD and PULP FICTION, respectively. Another great article from that time period is the piece they did on BARTON FINK including a Coen Bros. A to Z, which still holds up.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-32449548648841619052009-06-01T09:21:23.356-04:002009-06-01T09:21:23.356-04:00Brandon,
I almost put up Lynch on Lynch, but for ...Brandon,<br /><br />I almost put up <I>Lynch on Lynch</I>, but for me, it didn't shape the way I see film holistically as much as it shapes how I see Lynch's work in specific. The Lynch book I did put up touches on aspects of filmmaking and the world outside of his Lynchverse. Still Rodley's book is one I recommend to any cinephile.<br /><br />Ed,<br /><br />Thanks for your quick response. I don't know how you turn these pieces out so quickly. This one kicked my ass for 2 days. But I also had my wife and 2 kids at home, and helped my sister-in-law move this weekend. I look forward to reading your list, and will comment at your site.<br /><br />Fletch,<br /><br />Magazines and indeed any writings are allowed in this meme. <I>Film Comment</I> wasn't listed second on my list by accident. But gathering my thoughts on these books was a bit daunting I must admit.<br /><br />MovieMan,<br /><br />Curse you. This turned out to be much more difficult than I thought after I first jumped into it. What I was hoping would be a breezy jaunt down memory lane became an effort to show the proper respect and deference to each of these writers, who I admire as much for their ability to express themselves as I do for the content.<br /><br />Regarding each book you mention:<br /><br /><I>Easy Riders, Raging Bulls</I>: Gossip can sometimes illuminate. Biskind seems to like it too much, but this was an informative book nonetheless, and I say this as someone well-versed on Seventies American film.<br /><br /><I>Pictures at a Revolution</I>: what impresses me is how much he is able to inform us about the collapse of the studio system, the birth of the film school generation of filmmakers, and the shift in censorship practices even though he maintains a narrow focus, concentrating strictly on five films nominated for Best Picture in 1967.<br /><br /><I>Catching the Big Fish</I>: I actually have 2 copies of this book. One that I bought upon its release, and the other was given to me by Mr. Lynch himself, autographed during an appearance he made last year in New York when I happened to be there covering Tribeca. He was speaking about Transcendental Meditation at a lecture, and was very self-effacing. I'll post a picture I took with him above, that sadly came out pretty blurry (I could lie and say it was meant to evoke a Lynchian feel).Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-84096171309135204792009-05-31T22:15:30.905-04:002009-05-31T22:15:30.905-04:00I loved reading this post, Tony. What I love about...I loved reading this post, Tony. What I love about this is that everybody's list seems to be different from mine, yet I recognize and admire a lot of the titles. And you can always (I say always even though a few people have done their lists so far, though it seems to be taking off pretty quickly) see the blogger reflected in his/her choices, which I love.<br /><br />Easy Riders, Raging Bulls<br />I have not read this whole book though I've read it in bits and pieces over on bookstore visits. I love (and own) the movie of this - what did you think of it? I've heard a few people, in praising the movie, put down the book, saying they like the movie better since it's less gossipy. But, as often happens, I've watched the deleted or extra scenes on the DVD and gotten them mixed up with what's in the movie in my memories, so by my recollection it's still pretty gossipy.<br /><br />Pictures at the Revolution. Loved this book. At one point I considered including it on my list though I ended up (except for the monster movie series) only including books which I had on my bookshelf. But this one was really great, one of the best historical film books I've ever read. It's a great conceit and, better yet, marvelously executed.<br /><br />Catching the Big Fish<br />Another one I read on bookstore excursions, though this time I managed to get through the whole book that way. Fascinating, as you allude to. I love that, even as he's disclosing his secrets, Lynch leaves behind more mysteries than he solves. Though I'd really like to know what the Biblical verse was...<br /><br /><br /><br />Brandon,<br /><br />No such thing as "would." Put up your list!Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-75936162918340077732009-05-31T21:19:17.188-04:002009-05-31T21:19:17.188-04:00Tony,
I'm flattered that you'd choose me,...Tony,<br /><br />I'm flattered that you'd choose me, and like your reasoning (never good to be predictable, right?), but I'm afraid the tag is pretty much wasted on me. Although I'm a devourer of film (and writings on film), the number of books I've read on the subject could probably be counted on one hand. My experience in the matter is usually limited to either magazines (alas, Premiere) or critical writings on pop culture in general (a la Chuck Klosterman), but outside of scholastic reading, I can't think of much else.<br /><br />Though with this meme, I'll surely be given plenty of good options to choose from. Thanks.Fletchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299302086449086987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-87142409382752838102009-05-31T20:34:57.891-04:002009-05-31T20:34:57.891-04:00Thanks for tagging me, Tony, you have some good ch...Thanks for tagging me, Tony, you have some good choices here. I've posted <a href="http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-favorite-books-on-cinema.html" rel="nofollow">my own list</a> now, as well.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-39590458916810451072009-05-31T18:58:40.646-04:002009-05-31T18:58:40.646-04:00I would choose the following books for my personal...I would choose the following books for my personal list:<br /><br />NOTES ON THE CINEMATOGRAPHER by Robert Bresson<br /><br />MOVIE JOURNAL: THE RISE OF THE NEW AMERICAN CINEMA 1959-1971 by Jonas Mekas<br /><br />FILM THEORY AND CRITICISM edited by Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen<br /><br />LYNCH ON LYNCH by Chris Rodley<br /><br />And David Bordwell, just generally, but especially POETICS OF CINEMA.Brandon Colvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373364966092756041noreply@blogger.com