Veteran film critic Joe Leydon analyzes 100 movies that have defined genres, influenced filmmakers--and serve as standards by which other films are measured.
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About the Author
Leydon is an award-winning film critic. Joe teaches film history in Houston, Texas.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smart Fun,
By
This review is from: Joe Leydon's Guide to Essential Movies You Must See: If You Read, Write About, or Make Movies (Paperback)
This is one of the most pleasurable books about film around. Author Joe Leydon obviously knows his stuff but he's no pompous pedant. Instead, reading his prose feels as though you are having a conversation with a good friend -- and a witty, intelligent, interesting friend at that.
The goal of the book is not to tell us which are the greatest movies ever made, but to point out films to see that are important because of their subsequent influence on other films and on our culture itself. Luckily, this is done with just the right balance of humorous anecdotes and serious, insightful commentary. I find myself reading a section in the book, renting a film or a few that were mentioned in that section, and then rereading the book after watching the movies. Invariably, I end up appreciating and enjoying the flims a lot more than I would have if I had just watched them cold. This is one book that will have a home on my shelves for a long time to come.
11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A New Required Classic!,
By Rosebud (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Joe Leydon's Guide to Essential Movies You Must See: If You Read, Write About, or Make Movies (Paperback)
This is a very significant contribution to the world of film appreciation. As important as the AFI 100 Best Films list, Joe Leydon's experienced and professional insight is highly recomended for any film-buffs library. He provides in-depth and unique insight into some of the greatest films of our time. He is more than qualified, with many long years of experience writing for Variety and some of the top newspapers and film publications in the world. High recommended for anyone with more than a casual interest in great films. His approach and compilation is unique and thought-provoking. A must read for all film buffs.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fresh, engaging writing with clarifying perspective.,
By M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Joe Leydon's Guide to Essential Movies You Must See: If You Read, Write About, or Make Movies (Paperback)
I imagine one of the more difficult things for someone who writes about movies, is to write about the movies everyone's already written about, and not say the same things everyone else has said.
I mean, what more needs to be said about "Citizen Kane" or "Rashomon"? Then comes along Mr. Leydon, with these masterful, concise, pithy reappraisals of movies that everyone simply needs to see. The key here is perspective. He places each movie within a broader canvas; you see where it fits in cinematic history. You see where it SHOULD fit in your own filmgoing history. That's a pretty neat feat. I've been sitting reading a handful of these essays over lunch, over several days. They're perfect for those short periods of time, longer than a bathroom break, shorter than a rainy afternoon, when you'd like to read something better than a People magazine article. Having read dozens, if not hundreds, of film books, I was constantly surprised at his fresh approach, and his scholarly but engaging tone. This book on essential movies is an essential book itself. A thoroughly enjoyable experience...he needs to write another one!
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