There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale FROM OUR EDITORS
"There and Back Again" was J.R.R. Tolkien's alternate title for The Hobbit. Actor Sean Astin can claim some right to borrow the title: He played Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. On a more personal level, the title suggests Astin's journey from a troubled Hollywood childhood as the son of Patty Duke to the thwarted promise of his acting career to the role that changed his life and his triumphant return to America after the film's unprecedented success. As an added bonues, he offers a participant's up-close view of the making of Peter Jackson's epic films.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful film franchises in cinematic history. Breaking box office records worldwide, capturing numerous Academy Awards, the trilogy is a breathtaking cinematic achievement and beloved by fans everywhere.
For Sean Astin, the call from his agent about the role of Samwise Gamgee couldn't have come at a better time. His career was at a low point and choice roles were hard to come by. But his 18-month experience in New Zealand with director Peter Jackson and the cast and crew of The Lord of the Rings films would be more than simply a dream-come-true--it would prove to be the challenge of a lifetime.
Though much has been written about the making of the films, the real story of what took place on the set, the harrowing ordeals of the actors and the unspoken controversy and backstage dealings have never been told. More than a companion guide to the Rings films, There and Back Again is filled with stories from the set and of the actors involved that have never before been revealed--an eye-opening look at the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the making of one of the most ambitious films of all time.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
At 33, Astin is young to write his life story, and he tries to portray himself as a major star, thus exaggerating his actual status. However, the book succeeds as a brutally frank, hard-hitting portrait of the film business. Astin shoots from the hip, frequently offending people with his contentious viewpoints. He admires his supportive mother, Oscar winner Patty Duke, while chastising her for writing a book about her manic depression and exposing intimate details. He portrays Warren Beatty, who cast him in the controversial Bulworth, as someone "who knows he's a megalomaniac and sees nothing wrong with that." A self-described "artist-industrialist," Astin describes his producing and directing activities, which led to a 1991 Oscar nomination for his short film, Kangaroo Court. After wowing critics in Rudy, Astin landed the choice role of Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings, and he recalls making the blockbuster film with intensity and color. Some incidents are enlightening, such as his difficulty getting fitted for prosthetic devices for LOTR. Others pack emotional freight, particularly the tale of his father John Astin's efforts to land the role of Gandalf in LOTR and being passed over in favor of Ian McKellen. Astin comes across as a complex personality-courageous, impulsive, loving, abrasive-and these contradictory qualities make him an arresting centerpiece for a Hollywood story. (Oct. 12) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
"There," of course, is Middle-earth Astin played the hobbit Sam, Frodo's loyal, heroic partner in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. Yes, this is a candid memoir about the three films but even more about the actor. Astin first provides background about himself and his career, narrative buildup that characterizes the man himself: hyper self-aware, voluble, ambitious yet humble, family-loving, and interested in everything cinematic. So when we arrive on the set, we empathize with Astin's self-doubts while cheering him on (and Sam, too). Middle-earth was beautiful, dangerous, and exhausting, but the "creatures" cast and crew were all interesting and talented. One touching story involves Astin's making his own short film on the side, starring a crew member and two body doubles, plus Peter Jackson in a cameo. What was "there" like? A five-year period of psychoanalysis, says Astin. Highly recommended for film and general collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/04.] Martha Cornog, Philadelphia Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
AudioFile
This "actor's tale" describes not how THE LORD OF THE RINGS was made, or even Astin's involvement in it, but how he felt about it, from auditions through the Oscars, in unrelenting detail. Instead of information, craft observations, or even good dirt, his attention fastens on his own jittery psyche. He waffles between wounded self-love and praise of Peter Jackson and others, words that are undercut not only by their fulsomeness but by his insincere-sounding delivery. For a creditable actor, his reading is unprofessional, showing no command of tone, pacing, or even articulation. The listener is left exasperated, too high a price to pay for the little this tale tells. W.M. 2005 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
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