Peter Cowie

There's a segment in the book where the author relays, in some detail, scenes that the audience has been deprived of, but they seem to be scenes from the Redux cut (which I think the book's release coincided with). So, unless I've missed something, that info feels a bit redundant. Otherwise, this is an easy read and a good companion to one of the greatest films ever made, from a seed once in the hands of George Lucas, to a chaotic tree consuming every inch of space in the Coppola garden. There's a bit of historical context laid out towards the end of the book, as well as a comparison with Conrad's Heart of Darkness and a short character analysis. A good number of quotes and interview excerpts from various folk involved, some newly conducted by the author. I've already seen the film 3 times in the last year, but now want to watch it all over again.… (más)

I have loved Japanese films for many years, and rank Kurosawa and Ozu among my favorite directors. So I was overjoyed to see that Peter Cowie wrote a book on Japanese cinema. And what a book it is.

An exhaustive look at the history of Japanese film, he devotes a lot of time to the major directors - Kurosawa, Ozu, Naruse, Ichikawa - but spends time on lesser known directors. He briefly reviews multiple films by each director, which at times makes the book drag in my opinion. Japanese Cinema is still a fascinating look at one of my favorite genres of international film, and gave me fresh perspectives on some of my favorite films. For lovers of anime, the book falls short as the author only really looks at Miyazaki, but he does admit that anime would require a whole separate book.

Very enjoyable, and for those interested in Japanese film, an indispensable volume.

Many thanks to Stone Bridge Press and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book.… (más)

As I understand it, this was the first full treatment of Bergman and his films to appear in English. Apparently there was a second, revised edition, but I'm reading the 1982 (Secker & Warburg) original, because that's the edition in the local library. I have learned things about the director's life, some of them helpful for better understanding his films. But I'm constantly struck by how amateurish the writing is. Poorly constructed sentences. Non sequiturs. Lack of expansion of points that cry out for amplification, while at other times belaboring a point beyond the obvious. It reads in places like the quickly-typed notes one makes in preparation for a first draft. Don't know if any of these issues were addressed in the next edition. Sorry to be so negative, but given the reputation of the author, I was expecting better.… (más)