Gregg Rickman (1)

Despite the agnostic title, the focus is on cinema, excluding even television shows, and gathers "influential" essays such as would be used in a survey college course. My exposure to the genre is predominantly film, so the collection suits fine.

A mix of essays, some wallowing in the worst cinema criticism: navel gazing, inscrutable argot, and insider references; and some just wow-ing with their careful but concise commentary on things casual viewers probably won't notice on their own, but are fascinated to learn about once they've been pointed out. The remaining essays, most I've not yet read, or don't recall. These serve as orthodox resume builders: "Oh, I see, I should watch these various films to get an idea of the canon, and hmmn, these others I've seen don't seem to be mentioned at all."

I'll keep to dip into again, another time I watch a favourite Western.

2022 readings prompted by my reading of SHANE:
A Bazin - THE EVOLUTION OF THE WESTERN
J Kitses - AUTHORSHIP AND GENRE (Notes on the Western)
Fine, workmanlike.

M Landy - HE WENT THATAWAY (The Form & Style of Leone's Westerns)
Disappointing, didn't pick up anything that struck me as insightful or that resonates with what I love about the Leone films I've seen.

P Lehman - LOOKING AT LOOK'S MISSING REVERSE SHOT (Psychoanalysis and Style in John Ford's The Searchers)
Astounding. The vital importance of what is edited out of a shot, can be as definitive as what appears.… (more)

An enjoyable collection, including interviews with makers, contemporary criticism and thematic analysis. I'd recommend (re)watching some of the films alongside.

I particularly liked: the essay on Science Fiction and the Mysterium by Karl Wessel (the best aliens are the ones you don't see); Doug Williams on Star Wars and republics (links between the Jedi and late '60s protest movements); Carina Dielissen's feminist take on Alien (sex organ imagery and mother power) and E.J. Park's provocative Socratic dialogue on the Truman Show (was he actually better off in than out?)

Overall I found it really revealing to understand some of the subversive / satirical motivations of makers and the rich references to other works that I would otherwise completely miss.… (more)

I read the revised edition, very interesting. I'm wishing now I had my own copy for he footnotes and references to other works that Dick likes. Supposedly this interviewer had some of this other interviews with Dick published and this is actually the first in a series. I'm going to try to track down the others.

One warning, there's a pretty decent amount of spoilers although I only think there's a handful that could really destroy the book. Of course, in one or two cases I then realized I had read the actual books.

Also helps clears up some of his feelings towards Blade Runner.… (more)