Directors: Take One

From Library Journal
In this second volume of interviews, Emery offers insights into the works of Rob Reiner, Robert Zemeckis, Terry Gilliam, and ten other prominent directors. Based on transcriptions from the Encore Movie Channel production The Directors (minus the interviewer's questions), the chapters present the directors speaking in a sort of choreographed monolog. They spin stories of how they got started and talk about their films, tackling subjects like television, the casting process, studios, the industry today, and what the future holds. Each chapter includes a filmography and list of awards. Although the book's style is a bit confusing, the end result is an intimate portrait of the kind of men and women who elect to direct film today. For all public libraries and film collections.-Kelli N. Perkins, Herrick P.L., Holland, MI Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Emery resumes where The Directors--Take One (1999) left off, presenting 13 additional longer versions of interviews originally done for the Encore cable series The Directors. Longer because each one-hour episode featured only about 25 minutes of each interview. After brief introductions, the interviews appear as monologues. William Friedkin remembers the "now famous chase sequence" in The French Connection: the only mention of it in the script was "the chase begins here," and Friedkin and producer Phil D'Antoni delayed dealing with it "because we couldn't figure out what the hell to do with it." Eventually, Friedkin hit on the idea of involving innocent bystanders in the danger of the chase, thereby achieving greater verisimilitude when, for instance, star Gene Hackman's car nearly hits a baby carriage. The resulting explosive action scene remains gripping after all these years and repeated viewings. Emery's profiles of important and successful directors is a fine resource for film fans wanting a little insight into directorial technique and motivation. Mike Tribby


From Kirkus Reviews
A raw, messy volume of interview transcripts, saved in part by the unquenchable entertainment value of behind-the-scenes stories of how directors bring their movies to life. This edition is a spinoff of a monthly series of interviews conducted by Emery for the Encore cable network, although these are not transcripts of the shows. Emery is a CEO of Media Entertainment and a director himself, but there's not much of him in this work except brief introductions of his subjects. He doesnt even question the directors, who include James Cameron, Lawrence Kasdan, Richard Donner, and John Carpenter. All of the talking is left to the directors themselves, in whatever clipped or rambling or rambunctious manner they choose to employ. The result is a mishmash of material that never makes much sense as a collection. There's lots of repetition, run-on sentences, and lost inflections. At some points, its hard to follow the speakers narratives because the questions arent provided. At others, it feels as if one is reading a reporters notes instead of a book. The good material comes at the beginning of each section, as the directors talk about how they got started in the business. These were young menall men in Take Oneall of them movie lovers who found their way to Hollywood because of their passion (although Ron Howard was thrust before the camera before he could walk). The directors are led through their films one by one, doling out tidbits about casting and telling how they feel about their work. Unfortunately, most of their stories are cut short before they gather momentum, and nobody makes any startling revelations. Nevertheless, any volume that assembles the thoughts of Sidney Lumet, Spike Lee, Sydney Pollack, Norman Jewison, and Robert Wise is going to have some plumsfor readers willing to dig deep enough. (b&w photos, not seen) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


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