Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business (Vintage) by David Mamet Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business (Vintage)
Book Review: Feet of Clay
Summary: 1 Stars
David Mamet has written or directed several of the better films of the past quarter century. I love STATE AND MAIN, HOUSE OF GAMES, THE SPANISH PRISONER, and very much like THE WINSLOW BOY and HEIST. The ground beneath Mamet is very shaky. His characters are often fools because they don't see the truth not only about themselves, but about the world we live in. Mamet knows the truth, the subtext of his work tells us. I didn't realize until reading this book that he doesn't have a clue what truth is. He is lost in a sea of cynicism and self-told lies -- Eastern European Jews predominate among movie directors because of a shared genetic inheritance, as an example. (Nazis had the same idea, but genetics favored them, they thought.) Mamet uses historical referrences to substantiate his points, and almost always misinterprets them. He talks about Jackie Kennedy trying to crawl out of the limousine where he husband had been fatally shot as proof that we are all cowards, this when the truth was that she was placing herself in jeopardy trying to retrieve some of her husband's body matter in the hope that everything could somehow be made right.
Here is the truth -- we are all capable of cowardice, and outrageous acts of courage. We are all fools, and at the same time possess surprising wisdom. We are far more complex than the cynical, meager, narrow world view of David Mamet. Watch his movies -- they're fun (sometimes), but avoid this book, whose author comes across as self-important, arrogant and repulsive.
Book Review: The world according to David Mamet
Summary: 2 Stars
I found this book pedantic. Was there really a need for so many 5 syllable, grab the dictionary words when Mr. Mamet's stream of consciousness monologue is difficult to follow anyway? I felt no empathy because I found no attempt to relate to or touch upon humanity. Book Review: Try to see the cartoon
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps the best way to understand this book is to go see the cartoon Bambi Meets Godzilla. But if you haven't seen it. It opens with Bambi prancing and dancing through the forest. Then Godzilla big foot comes down right on top of Bambi. Bambi's legs twitch a couple of times and the credits roll -- that's the whole cartoon.
If this kind of humor suits you, or maybe the kind that's in 'Wag the Dog' you'll love this book. It's full of irreverence about the biggest names in the industry. Don't take the book too seriously, it's a romp through little stories about movies, people, and the industry. It's a light read, and isn't going to fill you with deep serious thoughs. But it is a fun read.
Book Review: Disappointing Dave
Summary: 2 Stars
Mamet offers surprisingly cliche Hollywood writer complaints. The writing is largely grandiose. Occasional dashes of humor and original insights but disapppointingly few.Book Review: Disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
Dull and introspective. Fifty pages in and you still haven't learned anything about the movie business. Lumet's "Making Movies" and Goldman's "Which lie did I tell" are both superior and a better investment of your time.