Actually, Amazon has a 3-fer of Sarris, Kael's "I Lost It at the Movies" and the complete film writings of Manny Farber for under $50. I'd say that's a great introduction to the three great American film critics.
Thomson's fun - he's so bright and a good writer. He's also a pompous schmo sometimes. His casual dismissals of Ford and Fellini, among others, are pretty hilariously wrong. It used to upset me, now I just laugh and enjoy his prose.
7) Ditto. He's not too keen on Altman or even Scorsese or Woody or Mel. But he LOVES Phillip Seymour Hoffman and P.T. Anderson. But you are right, he's just fun to read even when I think he's way off base.
[7] Right - the guys loves PT Anderson and then calls Ford's Grapes of Wrath "hollow." Yeeeeah, okay, David. Frankly, I also think he's self-consciously lobbing bombs, but as Welles once said "The Pantheon is a perfectly legitimate shooting gallery." (Or something like that)
The Hitchcock book by Truffaut is a favorite of mine. IMO it contains some of the best discussion in print about the arts of directing and storytelling.
It's posts like this that keep me coming back to BB several times a day, even in the off-season.
Here's one more for you, Alex:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Cinema-Directors-Directions-1929-1968/dp/0306807289/ref=pd_sim_b_2
Nice. Your BOY Andrew Sarris. Cool.
Actually, Amazon has a 3-fer of Sarris, Kael's "I Lost It at the Movies" and the complete film writings of Manny Farber for under $50. I'd say that's a great introduction to the three great American film critics.
Also, I keep meaning to read Thomas Schatz' "The Genius of the System," which I probably should have read in college.
That's a good one. And don't sleep on James Agee.
Thomson's fun - he's so bright and a good writer. He's also a pompous schmo sometimes. His casual dismissals of Ford and Fellini, among others, are pretty hilariously wrong. It used to upset me, now I just laugh and enjoy his prose.
7) Ditto. He's not too keen on Altman or even Scorsese or Woody or Mel. But he LOVES Phillip Seymour Hoffman and P.T. Anderson. But you are right, he's just fun to read even when I think he's way off base.
Matt, this Thomson book comes highly recommended. Looks like something you'd love: http://tinyurl.com/2697kha
[7] Right - the guys loves PT Anderson and then calls Ford's Grapes of Wrath "hollow." Yeeeeah, okay, David. Frankly, I also think he's self-consciously lobbing bombs, but as Welles once said "The Pantheon is a perfectly legitimate shooting gallery." (Or something like that)
The Hitchcock book by Truffaut is a favorite of mine. IMO it contains some of the best discussion in print about the arts of directing and storytelling.
It's posts like this that keep me coming back to BB several times a day, even in the off-season.
Thanks.
10) You bet,! Thanks for the kind words. The wife watched one of her favs over the weekend, "Rebecca."
10, 11) I love the Truffaut book and "Rebecca." Dame Judith Anderson, man oh man. (And Joan Fontaine was a looker)