A Long Hard Look at Psycho (BFI Film Classics) Summary and Reviews

A Long Hard Look at Psycho (BFI Film Classics)
by Raymond Durgnat

A Long Hard Look at Psycho (BFI Film Classics)
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Book Summary Information

Author: Raymond Durgnat
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-04-26
ISBN: 0851709206
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: British Film Institute

Book Reviews of A Long Hard Look at Psycho (BFI Film Classics)

Book Review: A Long Hard Slog Through Psycho Babble
Summary: 2 Stars

Worth no more than a glance.

Which I actually regret to say, considering the amount of time, attention and determination to explain every single damn frame of this fascinating movie the good Professor obviously devoted to his project. Nonetheless, any serious attempt to make sense of his every profundity is absolutely guaranteed to turn off all but the most tiresomely nerdish cineaste. It took me two years to build up the desire to make it all the way through - and I am a fanatic about Psycho.

Thus the scholars continue their age-old campaign to ruin enjoyment of art. Enough of this sort of psuedo-intellectual compulsive-obsessive navel gazing is certain to result in blinding students to an honest appreciation of film just as successfully as a few decades of it has soured most of us on reading literature for pleasure.

They say that those who cannot do,teach. But what exactly is it that they do try to teach? (And just wait until the PhDs get around to videogames!)

Anyway, what is saddening and maddening about Mr. Durgnat's effort is that there are indeed numerous excellent and fascinating insights about Psycho to be discovered amidst its many pages of self congratulation. Had these pages been briskly edited down into a concise and readable essay - say one quarter the book's length - I am certain that it would have earned and deserved a much wider and truly appreciative audience.

Unfortunately, as it stands, an honest admirer of this marvelous and historic film can only be obligated to shout out - in true horror-mode fashion - to the curious reader thinking of taking a peek deep down inside: Don't go in there!

Or, if you must, just borrow a copy for a quick "diegetic" browse. Or read Mr. Rebello's excellent "The Making of Psycho" instead.

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