Customer Reviews

Adventures of a Suburban Boy

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Boorman writes with great wit and humility about his career as a filmmaker, working his way up the ladder. He adds interesting stories about legends such as Lee marvin, Toshiro Mafuni, Neil Jordan, etc. He talks about the struggles of having his films made, and the fact that many filmakers ideas never make it to the screen. A very honest nad enlightening autobiography.

I found myself trapped in an airport beginning a longish flight and this book was the single semi-appealing book available; once I started reading I was again trapped by his self-deprecating and insightful wit. How difficult it must be to make a good movie if someone as thoughtful, intelligent and sensitive as this only succeeds a small part of the time.

An enjoyable book from the first with the added bonus of glimpses into the real lives of other artists and creators. I may be over-grateful because the book was much more than I expected or hoped - but I don't think so.

Length:: 1:01 Mins

Any life is a creative life no matter where it's lived. I've spent my life in show business; from acting, (Jurassic Park, Star Trek, etc.) to directing, (I seem to have forgotten those unfortunate titles) to the last fifteen years as a successful coach for many wonderful and gifted actors and directors. I didn't just whip our my "cred's" back there to brag, (little too brag about) but rather to point out that I know of what Boorman speaks; the mad-dash that is a life in the arts - and the author truly speaks from the heart. Boorman's book is brilliant. Well, that's my first ever video review, hope it works.

This memoir started in a very interesting fashion with details of Boormans early life with his parents,his start with the BBC and the early private TV channels in the UK.

The BBC model may have been very staid and run like any government department but it did give people time to develope thier talents. He made documentary series and found success with these.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book is a film diary , where he details all the problems associated with making his various films. Sadly all we get is the problems, Boorman admits to a depressive personality, so we never see any elation or even any real satisfaction in what he creates.

He details a friendship that developes with Lee Marvin which lasts until his death, but once again we only have Marvin as the alcoholic. The same with James Dickey, the author of Deliverance , we have a list of his problems and his behaviour while drunk.

What started out as quite an enlightening read became bloody depressing as it stumbled from one " oh my " moment to the next.

My own take on John Boorman is that he CAN be a fine film director and sometimes he is. He's been responsible for some of the very best films of the last 40 years (HELL IN THE PACIFIC, DELIVERANCE, HOPE AND GLORY) and some of the absolute worst as well (ZARDOZ and EXCALIBUR, anybody?). As a memoir writer, however, he's first-rate, and what emerges is an engaging chronicle of his life both in the movies and out of them. His descriptions of how he developed each of his movies are always fascinating, and he has a huge streak of compassion for the people he's encountered throughout his life that makes his stories about them revealing without being vindictive. Boorman has been a director who has been more than willing to fall on his face any number of times reaching for what he believes might be a special cinematic moment, and this wonderful book goes a long way towards explaining the whys and wherefores of those aspirations. It hasn't changed my opinion about ZARDOZ one bit, but I now find it a lot easier to give him a thumbs-up for taking the risk to make it. Recommended.