Castaways of the Image Planet: Movies, Show Business, Public Spectacle

by Geoffrey O'Brien

The renowned cultural critic presents sixteen years' worth of film criticism and writings on popular culture, covering such topics as Seinfeld, 1930s screwball comedies, Hong Kong martial-arts movies, the evolution of sexploitation pictures, and profiles of such renowned actors and directors as Marlon Brando, Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, and the Marx Brothers. 20,000 first printing.

Genres: Film

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of anything more enjoyable than reading a collection of essays by Geoffrey O'Brien. As a writer, I look up to him, because it seems he has it all. Good taste, good job (he's the editor-in-chief of the Library of America) and a lover or observer of pop culture. "Castaways of the Image Planet is mostly about film, but I feel he goes beyond that medium to write about culture that has spawn from the film aesthetic.

His commentary on Bing Crosby, The Marx Brothers, Mike Leigh, and Japanese Manga comics are my favorite in this collection. And again he's a guy who knows a lot, and can articulate the essence of his subject matters. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read film criticism, but also how a writer approaches his subject matter. So in one word, great.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

He doesn't write often enough.