Customer Reviews

Sayles on Sayles (Directors on Directors S.)

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If you're new to Sayles' movies or a long time fan, this book is a must. Gavin Smith asks probing and significant questions and Sayles provides insights about himself that are refreshingly matter of fact. The book is organized chronologically and examines each of Sayles' films. I have only seen Eight Men Out and Lone Star as of now but after this book I'm trying to see as many as I can. I've seen Lone Star twice and I'm going to buy the video. I rank it as one of my 10 all-time favorite movies because it is brilliant on so many levels.

Now in his early 60's Jon Sayles has a prolifict Body of Work that includes acting, writing novels, screenplays for others as well as for movies he has directed. He is considered in his directing work as an independent filmmaker. This book is written in a question and answer style with Gavin Smith and includes discussions of 3 of his novels, 10 of his films and plus several screenplays that he did for Roger Corman and others. His TV work on the series Shannon's Deal is also covered. In the Introduction and Chapter One we learn about Sayles' up bringing and early years in school and with Eastern Slope Playhouse in New Hampshire where he had his early professional acting experience.

I was most interested in the sections on his directed films The Return of the Secaucus Seven, Matewan, Eight Men Out, Passion Fish and Lone Star each which I have already seen, plus the sections on his books Pride of the Bimbos and Union Dues which I intend to read.

Sayles characterizes himself as "subverbal." Paradoxically, his stories contain a high degree of dialogue between characters who he calls "witnesses" to the subject he is exploring. I especially enjoyed the analysis of his work and his process of selecting the subjects that he does.

This is a specialized book that I would recommend for anyone interested in studying Sayles' early work or working in the film business. The Appendix summarizes his work to 1997.