Customer Reviews

Al Pacino: The Authorized Biography

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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Five BIG Stars!! A fascinating and frank look at Al Pacino in an article and essays, but mostly through interviews with one of his most cherished friends. Lawrence Grobel is an award-winning author and longtime trusted Pacino associate. Even so, he is a probing, persistent journalist who asks the tough questions. In the foreword, Al "forgives" him for this book. The introduction reveals Alfredo James (Sonny) Pacino as I would have never imagined him. Although this book is totally Pacino-centric, frank questions fly both ways in the series of interviews covering a period of over 25 years. Pacino's questions reveal as much about himself and the depth of their friendship as his answers. Full of personal insights and professional tidbits that heretofore were unknown, unless you read the articles and interviews in a previously published form over the decades, this is one book that ALL Pacino fans will want to read. After all, Al Pacino is a private person who usually keeps it that way.

In this book, we learn the impact of Charlie Laughton, among others, on Pacino. The inside scoop on plays, movies, and roles that could have happened but didn't. His saddest professional experience. The best young actor he ever saw. We also learn the true meaning of 'the show must go on' as Al shows incredible inner resolve during the Broadway run of the play "American Buffalo". I couldn't have done it, but I understand why he did it and he was right! He carves out some protective space regarding his women, while acknowledging them. And again what he won't divulge about them says alot about his character. But there is much more that he will discuss and it makes this book worth every penny of it's cost. Not a lot of verbal fat herein, this book is trenchant and to the point. Also included are 8 pages of photos from the almost obligatory baby picture to family photos to professional associates with Pacino and an ad announcing something that every Pacino fan will want when it's available. This is a deep look at the life and psyche of one of the world's greatest actors and it is very engrossing. Highly recommended!! Five ENGROSSING Stars.
(Hardcover, unabridged, 245 pages)

Larry Grobel is the master of all interviewers. His book on Al Pacino gives an insight into one of
America's finest actors who is so private and removed from the public that, up until now, we have
known very little about him. The compilation of interviews are done over several periods of time
(usually a film between each interview)and Mr. Grobel's questions show a transformation and
growth in the actor as his career and life progress. Mr. Grobel has let the actor talk with his
guard "up" and his guard "down" and go at his own pace, and the reveal is one of intense depth and
an interesting look inside the life and career of Al Pacino. One of the most fascinating revelations
is hearing of his humor and vision of himself. One is particularly astonished to find the comedic
humor of the legendary actor because it is so very different from how we associate him through his films. The book makes you yearn to sit down and engage in a wonderful conversation with the author
and the actor and know it will be a treat and time well spent. In fact, by the time you finish reading the book, you will feel that you have become friends with both Mr. Grobel and Mr. Pacino. This is
definitely a five star read!

The friendship between interviewer Lawrence Grobel and Al Pacino that developed over the years represented by the interviews in this collection contributes to the frankness of the revealing and insightful dialogue.

The two men explore Pacino's approach to his craft and career and the result is a fresh appreciation for the body of work Pacino has accomplished. For anyone interested in his films or the movie industry this is an excellent choice.

Beginning in 1979 and running through 2005 the interviews capture some of Pacino's thinking at different stages of his career and there is a richness derived from this approach that might be missed in a retrospective biography.

Excellent book in interview form which delves deep into the fascinating and complex psyche of one of the most accomplished and gifted actors in cinema history. Reknown journalist and writer Lawrence Grobel goes to where no other interviewer/reporter has gone before:deep into the mind and thought process of legendary film and stage actor extraordinaire Al Pacino. This fantastic and thorough book explains in great depth the complex and brilliant acting career of Al Pacino. If you love Pacino's work like I do you will love this book. Highly recommended and entertaining. Al is widely known not only for his remarkable work on film and in the theater but for his passion for his craft. He is passionate about acting and is a very serious actor but who would of thought that this dark and intense actor would have a sense of humor. Some of the answers that he gives to Lawrence Grobel are actually quite funny. He can be serious when he needs to be and quite amusing when he feels the need. Get this book and you will not be disappointed. He discusses in great detail his entire career from his humble beginnings when he was a homeless struggling actor to his defining status as an icon of American cinema.

As close to autobiography as we're likely to get from Al Pacino, this series of interviews with Lawrence Grobel begins in 1979 and ends in 2005. For some reason, Pacino and Grobel struck up a real friendship. Through that friendship, Grobel was able to get a decent insight into Pacino and actually get him to answer some questions.

Let's be clear, however. Those looking to find insight into Pacino's personal life are going to be disappointed. There's some dancing around Pacino's relationships with his mother & father, and some less than telling information about his relationships with the opposite sex. Even his comments in later years about fatherhood seem less than revealing.

On the other hand, Grobel does seem to be very good and getting Pacino to talk about his work. There's a lot of good stuff about how Pacino views his work and the characters he's created. He's not afraid to say when he thinks he failed or when a movie in which he's participated misses the mark. And he's not afraid to speculate on the reasons why. There's also a lot of talk about Pacino's theatre work which is quite interesting. If there's also a lot of talk about the movies Pacino has produced which, up until recently, few have seen...well, that's the prerogative of close friendship.

All in all, it's an interesting look at a powerful actor and his craft. Anyone who's ever been moved by a Pacino performance or is fascinated by the craft of acting would enjoy this book.

Al Pacino: one of the greatest actors of this generation (along side with De Niro of course!)

If anyone follows my reviews on Amazon, might have noticed I have very few book reviews. Sadly over the past few years all my books have been around tech and the self improving categories.

I bought this book @ the Dubai duty free airport shops. I may sound like a little boy who rediscovered reading and books again! This book totally took me into the mind and heart of this amazing man. I think I will now consider reading more stuff like this and change my reading material. In this story like bio the reader (especially the fans) will completely get an idea of how and where and when and what this actor was going through.

Best bio book I ever picked up!

I'm a huge Al Pacino fan and I bought 'Al Pacino: The authorized Biography' thinking it was, well, his biography, since I already own a book named 'Conversations with Al Pacino', by Lawrence Grobel, the same author from his biography, that is entirely made out of interviews. In my country neither one of the books are sold and there are no reviews on this one in Amazon, so I bought it. I was shocked to find out, when it arrived, that his 'Biography' is actually the same book with a different title. Now, the interviews are amazing - they're about nine or ten and range from his first interview, in the seventies until the most recent years. I definitely recommend Al's fans buying either one of them. Just don't buy both. It's a waste of money.

This is a good group of interviews and conversations done with Al Pacino. It isn't a biography, although it has bigraphical information. What it does is give the reader a small glimpse of a man who normally stays well hidden. If you like Al Pacino it is a good read, and gives insight into the behind the curtain reasons for some of his "quirks". The Kindle editon is formatted without problems. The only complaint is the pictures are small, but that is a kindle limitation. The words carry the book. So this isn't an issue for me. I have looked for the print edition and it was out a few days, sold out in book stores, and I haven't seen it since. It may be available on Amazon, I was checking when I found this edition. And didn't continue to look, the pictures aren't that important to me - I know what Pacino looks like.

Mr. Grobel's relationship with Al Pacino grows throughout this book. The book consists of numerous interviews by the author as well as magazine articles. Pacino talks about his many successful films, actors he admires, the Godfather III disaster, and his obsession with Richard III. This was a great read and allowed me to see inside the mind of one of my favorite actors.

This is a great book for several reasons:

1. Pacino gives insight on many of his movies, discussing why he feels they were hit or miss.

2. Pacino talks about off-the-camera stuff, such as his childhood, his struggles in trying to become an accomplished actor and much more.

3. Pacino elaborates on his true passion and where he returns when his career is in a slump.

The introduction is very strong and interesting because it summarizes his career work. If you like Al Pacino, you gotta have this book.