James Mottram is the author of The Making of Memento (Faber, 2002). He lives in London.
"I've never been to Sundance--however, after reading this book, it feels as if I've been there and back. James Mottram makes clear the impact Sundance and all its players has had on the so-called Hollywood studio system, while breaking down the nature and structure of storytelling, something I continually struggle with, and articulating it in a manner that will enable the average movie lover to more fully understand the metaphorical undertones a writer/director is trying to achieve. The result is an enjoyable read, full of a wealth of information that leaves us asking, "what next?" --Milo Addica, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Monster's Ball
Mottram covers the same territory Sharon Waxman did in 2005's Rebels on the Backlot, including extensive considerations of directors Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino, but the British film journalist adds several filmmakers into the mix, including Sofia Coppola and Wes Anderson, concentrating primarily on hot young talents discovered at the Sundance Film Festival. He's also more interested in what's on the screen than Waxman was, so nearly every chapter has lengthy analyses of the movies discussed. But these interpretive flights distract from the reportage, especially when Mottram dismisses successful directors like Robert Rodriguez (who arguably have taken back Hollywood) because he doesn't consider movies like Spy Kids mature enough for serious consideration, or when he insists on linking every modern maverick to a counterpart in '70s cinema. He also links some films together by simplistic means, grouping a trilogy of films set in high schools in one chapter and building another chapter around Elmore Leonard adaptations. Mottram does give insight into the career trajectories of a few of his subjects, most notably Soderbergh, David Fincher and Bryan Singer, making his history a useful starting point. 50 b&w photos. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
"I've never been to Sundance--however, after reading this book, it feels as if I've been there and back. James Mottram makes clear the impact Sundance and all its players has had on the so-called Hollywood studio system, while breaking down the nature and structure of storytelling, something I continually struggle with, and articulating it in a manner that will enable the average movie lover to more fully understand the metaphorical undertones a writer/director is trying to achieve. The result is an enjoyable read, full of a wealth of information that leaves us asking, "what next?" --Milo Addica, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Monster's Ball
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
