tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post3666557128114197048..comments2024-01-30T04:32:47.585-05:00Comments on The Cooler: My Favorite Movie BooksJason Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-19994494527245170242009-06-04T16:00:53.501-04:002009-06-04T16:00:53.501-04:00Kevin: I'm in Washington, DC, now. I grew up i...Kevin: I'm in Washington, DC, now. I grew up in Eugene, and the newspaper there had a local film critic who wrote exclusively for the paper until about 1997 or so. (I recall, around his last year, that he really liked <i>Henry Fool</i> and <i>The Fifth Element</i>). After he retired, the paper started running Ebert, though by then I was off to college and out of state.<br /><br />Funny about that little booklet you mention: I remember it, and I think I left that behind with my mom (gone now, I'm sure), to make myself feel better about stealing the book.<br /><br />Glad you like <i>The Conversations</i>. It's such a fast read of terrific, easy-to-digest information.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment!Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-3418070518729021242009-06-04T12:38:25.985-04:002009-06-04T12:38:25.985-04:00This is great stuff Jason. Just out of curiosity ...This is great stuff Jason. Just out of curiosity are you still in Oregon? I'm in Salem -- so perhaps we were exposed to the same "local" film criticism (the Salem paper usually just has the AP critics reviews in it). <br /><br />I still have my beat up 1997 Ebert companion and I'm so glad you singled that one out because like you, I get sucked in and start reading review after review. I think that was the last edition where he had such an array of reviews, I think after that edition it started becoming the most recent years reviews. But yes, that is such a great book, and despite the fact that my copy is missing a few pages and doesn't have a cover, I'll keep it forever. I also remember carrying around the little mini-companion that came with book, hopping on my bike and heading down to the local video store to check another titles off the list of titles that he gave 4-stars. <br /><br />Also, The Conversations was the first book I ever bought about editing. It's been one of the best investments I've made, I still reference it today.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-40740552284761560202009-06-01T10:49:16.016-04:002009-06-01T10:49:16.016-04:00Thanks, all. This was a fun task. When it was done...Thanks, all. This was a fun task. When it was done, I felt satisfied that the five I selected was a strong, representative sampling. But, of course, I could have listed five other books and felt good about them.<br /><br />Anon: <I>Pictures of a Revolution</I> is one I keep picking up at the store but never actually buying. I'll get around to it someday.<br /><br />Ed: Well, everyone should check it out. But, yeah, I do like the simplicity of the title, along with its allusion.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-22682330000700073602009-05-31T22:49:30.368-04:002009-05-31T22:49:30.368-04:00I guess I should probably read The Conversations t...I guess I should probably read The Conversations then, huh? <br /><br />Great list, although the only one I actually have read (and put on my own list, too) is the Kael book, which is as maddening and entertaining and silly and insightful as Kael always is. I still often browse through it, wondering what Kael thought of some movie I've seen recently. Which, actually, I do with Ebert a lot too, although with him I just head online rather than to a book.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-48684235019948269632009-05-31T22:41:04.068-04:002009-05-31T22:41:04.068-04:00The Kael compilation is a good read, particularly ...The Kael compilation is a good read, particularly since it includes her piece on Citizen Kane. And that she seems to continually get her digs in at her buddy Bosley Crowther.<br /><br />I recently read Pictures at a Revolution, a pretty good overview of the 5 selections for best picture in 1968. While less a truly indepth exploration and analysis that it's purported to be, nevertheless a good historical look at the contextual times and how each of the 5 unfolded.<br /><br />Ebert's Great Movies summary on line is also a great resource.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-9984812188902072782009-05-31T22:30:56.747-04:002009-05-31T22:30:56.747-04:00Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is an early favorite in ...Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is an early favorite in this meme. It's one I've browsed in bookstores many time, but I saw a screening of the film version which and loved it - what's more Arthur Penn (and I believe the remaining partner of the Benton/Newman team - Benton I think) spoke after.<br /><br />And of course, For Keeps seems to be on every list, as well it should.<br /><br />Great picks with both conversations books. Again, I've perused both. I sometimes think Murch may be the most valuable contributor to the 70s film revolution beyond any of the directors. As for the AFI book, I think the Directing the Film book which I cited is culled from the same conversations, except that it slices and dices the directors' comments up and organizes them by topic instead of by individual interview. Both approaches are interesting, and I'd love to read the version you cite as well.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-6323620735535962842009-05-31T19:36:29.710-04:002009-05-31T19:36:29.710-04:00I have read and really enjoyed Raging Bulls and Th...I have read and really enjoyed <i>Raging Bulls</i> and <i>The Converstaions</i> because, well, you gave them to me as Christmas or birthday presents. <br /><br />I love the former book for its anecdotes about the wild 70s and the free-spirited films that came out of that decade that always packs a visceral punch whenever I think of it (and living through it). It brought me back to seeing <i>The Godfather</i> and <i>Star Wars</i> and <i>Taxi Driver</i> when they first came out.<br /><br />You're right about the latter book. It influences you to watch films in a different way. It also inspired me to consider an element of film I had never thought much about - sound and sound mixing - so that now my passion for sound nearly equals my passion for the cinematic image.<br /><br />A great list of books. I will try the book by Kael. You're right; she can be a cheap "bomb-thrower," as you say - and some of her articles really turned me off her writing, but I will give her another try.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.com