NF

3.75 ( )

This essay is a scathing review of the movie industry. I could not get past page 192 if you literally lit a fire under my behind. David Mamet's opinionated nature comes through loud and clear; to the point that it is painfully obvious that he is writing about particular people without ever actually naming them. I just could not read any more of that poor person getting so thoroughly lampooned.

I do however agree with his position on the audition though. A jury cannot decide what an audience will like, only an audience can do that. Which is why the movie industry is so hit and miss. For example The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. There are those who love the movie cast and want none other, and those like me who hated Jonathan Reese-Myers as Valentine and can't wait for the TV reboot.

While Mr. Mamet does make some valid arguments he gets more than a little preachy, and, at the end of the day, too bombastic for me to bother finishing the essay.
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It's so cool to get an insider's view of film making. David Mamet has written s many wonderful plays and screenplays, it's nice to read a non-fiction work. I do not like Mamet's politics but his writing is good. ( )

An interesting look at the movie industry and an good explanation about the changing nature of the quality of films. It is not simply because of of an attempt to provide what the audience ask for but more the nature of the industry in which the only people who actually read scripts are the lowest level employees tasked with reducing the script to three sentences. Plus, they tend to try to find scripts similar to ones tried before.

My enjoyment of the book is somewhat lowered by Mamet's need to use 'big' words, need to inject national politics into the book, and mention of films not seen by me. Fair enough, and it does lead me to some films I might like. ( )