This intriguing book devotes a chapter to each of DePalma's films. Each chapter does a splendid job of contextualizing that film in cinematic history, DePalma's personal life and the current events of the time.

For a fan of his films this book offers many insights and draws many conclusions which, whether one agrees or not, gives the reader a new perspective on each film. It has motivated me to return to some of these works and watch with a new eye.

For film history buffs the issues and controversies surrounding each film (and DePalma in general) are addressed. To what degree did he copy or mimic his influences (Hitchcock and Godard primarily)?

Ultimately what this book does is present Brian DePalma as a "personal filmmaker" in that he seems to use his work to work through, or at least analyze, his own life's experiences. To this end I believe the work is a success, though I am hesitant to accept every possible connection the author makes.

Reviewed from an ARC made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (plus d'informations)

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pomo58 | May 31, 2015 |

Eastwood (Movie Icons) par Douglas Keesey

I was one of the people who took the hero further away from the white hat. In A Fistful of Dollars, you didn't know who was the hero till a quarter of the way through the film, and then you weren't sure; you figured he was the protagonist, but only because everybody else was crappier than he was. I like the way heroes are now. I like them with strengths, weaknesses, lack of virtue." - Clint Eastwood"

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wiegandf | Apr 20, 2014 |

Paul Verhoeven par Douglas Keesey

Known for always pushing the envelope when it comes to showing sex and violence on screen, Paul Verhoeven has directed controversial films in several genres, including the erotic thriller (Basic Instinct), melodrama (Showgirls) and science fiction (RoboCop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Hollow Man). However, even before going to Hollywood, Verhoeven had been a succes de scandale in his native Netherlands, where he directed a war saga (Soldier of Orange), a medieval epic (Flesh+Blood), a psychosexual thriller (The Fourth Man) and a sex comedy (Turkish Delight, which was voted Best Dutch Film of the Century at the Netherlands Film Festival). Verhoeven has shown that visceral thrills can be thought provoking, challenging our received notions of heroism, patriotism, and eroticism. He has created some of the most courageous and contentious films of recent years. Made with full access to Paul Verhoeven's archives!
-- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

wiegandf | Apr 19, 2014 |

Erotic Cinema (Midi S.) par Douglas Keesey

Primarily a picture book (what else do you expect from Taschen), this book highlights erotic content in cinematic history. Focus is on movies that explore sexual themes (as opposed to merely containing sexual content) and chapters are divided by topic rather than chronologically. Much more broad than Joe Bob Brigg's Profoundly Erotic, but far more shallow.

Signalé

thudfactor | Oct 11, 2006 |

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