Australian Penthouse

The Devil’s Guide To Hollywood
Joe Eszterhas
St Martin’s Press

Review:  Suzan Ryan

Outspoken, belligerent, insightful, indiscreet and undeniably talented, screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is the man behind some of Hollywood’s most expensive scripts and highest-grossing movies—such as Flashdance, Jagged Edge and Basic Instinct.

He is also a man with a quick temper and a low threshold for idiots; making him a poor fit with the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) vacuities of the people involved with Hollywood’s movie machine.

Eszterhas is almost too eager to speak his mind, no matter the cost. For the famed screenwriter, retaining ownership of your dignity in a town where weak character is king and integrity is an affect available for sale by-the-hour, is essential to not blowing out your brains at the end of the day.

The Devil’s Guide To Hollywood is a tell-all tome that is as much about keeping the faith as it is as about the art of scriptwriting (i.e. don’t let the bastards see you blink). It is wickedly humorous, painfully revealing, scathingly vituperative, and honest (despite the author’s clearly hurt feelings perpetually colouring his comments).  You don’t have to be interested in the art of screenwriting to fall in love with this book; possessing a modicum of integrity, a cynical sense of humour, and a distaste for the malignant narcissism of most people, is sufficient.

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The Absolute Sandman: Volume Three

The Absolute Sandman: Volume Three
Written by Neil Gaiman / Cover by Dave McKean
Vertigo

An involving and rewarding effort from the master of surrealist fantasy graphic novels.

It is difficult to find fault with such an iconic and perfectly presented book, other than to say that Volume Three is more a bridging-middle to the series than the snap-crackle-pop introductory story arcs of the two preceding books. Naturally, it’s wise to begin your Gaiman journey with Volume One, as these are not the kind of books you just pick up and start reading from any point; the stories are deep, broad and complex—written for adults who prefer to delve into the depths instead of the shallows, with themes of morality, mythology, life after death, faith and love.

Volume Three’s major story arc is ‘Brief Lives’ (it also features the single-issue prequel ‘Song of Orpheus’), the plot focuses on The Sandman’s sister, Delirium, and her quest to find their missing brother, Destruction.  Accompanied by Dream (who carries a hidden-agenda), the pair embark on a fruitless search that throws up more questions than answers—especially between The Sandman and his son, Orpheus.

‘World’s End’, travellers’ stories about how the duo became moored at the Inn at Worlds End, provides a welcome and interesting divergence. The book also features several single-issue stories, including the acclaimed ‘Ramadan’: the story of a boy-king of ancient Baghdad and the deal he brokers with The Sandman to grant his city immortality—featuring stunning illustrations by P. Craig Russell (The Jungle Book); and ‘A Parliament of Rooks’, a prequel that examines the childhood lives of Dream and Death.

First-time bonus features include: pin-up pages from galleries in The Sandman #50 and Sandman Special #1; the ‘Desire’ story from Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #3; The Endless Gallery #1; script and thumbnails from The Sandman #50, a section on Endless products (such as poster, statues, t-shirts and more); plus an introduction by artist, Jill Thompson.

This beautifully bound book of more than 600 pages is presented in a sturdy, illustrated hardcover slipcase.

The Godfather Family Album
Photographs by Steve Schapiro
Taschen

THIS silk-and-leather large format art book provides homage to one of the greatest movie franchises of all time: Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather series. The numbered books (1200 copies plus 126 artist proofs—the first 200 featuring an original print by Steve Schapiro) are both diary and memento. Filled with interviews, screen shots, behind-the-scenes and candid photography, and so much more, this tome is a treasure. Continue reading “Reviews – Books: The Godfather Family Album by Taschen” »

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