Reviews
Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business by David Mamet
knick83's review
4.0
A collection of essays in which David Mamet dissects what is wrong with the movie business and shares his very subjective views on his favourite and least favourite movies and actors. An insightful, often very funny, and brutally honest insider's look at Hollywood.
thebacklistbook's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
2.0
This essay is a scathing review of the movie industry. I could not get past page 192 if you literally lit a fire under my behind. David Mamet's opinionated nature comes through loud and clear; to the point that it is painfully obvious that he is writing about particular people without ever actually naming them. I just could not read any more of that poor person getting so thoroughly lampooned.
I do however agree with his position on the audition though. A jury cannot decide what an audience will like, only an audience can do that. Which is why the movie industry is so hit and miss. For example The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. There are those who love the movie cast and want none other, and those like me who hated Jonathan Reese-Myers as Valentine and can't wait for the TV reboot.
While Mr. Mamet does make some valid arguments he gets more than a little preachy, and, at the end of the day, too bombastic for me to bother finishing the essay.
I do however agree with his position on the audition though. A jury cannot decide what an audience will like, only an audience can do that. Which is why the movie industry is so hit and miss. For example The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. There are those who love the movie cast and want none other, and those like me who hated Jonathan Reese-Myers as Valentine and can't wait for the TV reboot.
While Mr. Mamet does make some valid arguments he gets more than a little preachy, and, at the end of the day, too bombastic for me to bother finishing the essay.
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