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Abel Ferrara: The King of New York
The first English language study of one of America's most controversial living filmmakers. Nick Johnstone combines insight into a troubled and private man with a detailed critical overview of Ferrara's career to date. A long overdue critique of one of modern cinema's darkest maverick talents.
- GenresFilm
200 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 24, 2008
This book is recommended for film students, confirmed fans of Ferrara and wannabe filmmakers (I cant quite figure out which camp prefers the one word var.). Also cant figure out why the author chooses to include five pages of analysis of the TV movie "The Gladiator" when by his own admission "the film was shot in two weeks, and it looks like it. Ultimately, it's a mass-market made-for-TV entertainment and nothing else." He (the author) also uses term "drink driver" more than once.
Academic and very British analysis of Ferrara's work. Big on pointing out nods to Godard and Polanski. Reads a lot like a dissertation or master's thesis. Also was published in 1999 and so doesnt include any works beyond '97. Scant biographical information included.
The further I read the more I realize this text is in need of an editor/fact checker. Section on "King of New York" has Snipes playing Jimmy Jump (when it was Laurence Fishburne), and "Bad Lieutenant" has Kietel's character betting on the Mets. The irony was that the Lt. was putting his money on Strawberry who like the Dodgers before him left NYC for LA. Another layer of irony is that Strawberry who has demons of his own fails to deliver costing the Lt. more than he can afford and ultimately his life.
Academic and very British analysis of Ferrara's work. Big on pointing out nods to Godard and Polanski. Reads a lot like a dissertation or master's thesis. Also was published in 1999 and so doesnt include any works beyond '97. Scant biographical information included.
The further I read the more I realize this text is in need of an editor/fact checker. Section on "King of New York" has Snipes playing Jimmy Jump (when it was Laurence Fishburne), and "Bad Lieutenant" has Kietel's character betting on the Mets. The irony was that the Lt. was putting his money on Strawberry who like the Dodgers before him left NYC for LA. Another layer of irony is that Strawberry who has demons of his own fails to deliver costing the Lt. more than he can afford and ultimately his life.
July 17, 2014
Cursory overview that taxonomizes groups of films on an arbitrary basis. Great details about the background of Ferrara and his films, but also rather brief. And no love for the Body Snatchers remake!? I mean, really.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews