Paul Newman: A Celebration

by Eric Lax

Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

COOL HAND NEWMAN

Eric Lax's Newman: A Biography (Turner Publishing, $29.95, 192 pages), a sometimes insightful look at Paul Newman, delves into some inner recesses of a private man, not usually given to personal journalistic reveries. Expectations of startling disclosures will not be met as Newman the man, like many of his famous screen characters, is a laconic rather than loquacious communicator. Unfortunately, Lax, who wrote an earlier biography of Woody Allen, is prone to dense, lyrical prose that leaps about without benefit of segue.
In some respects, the book is more of a tribute than a biography, although it traces the ascent of a creative artist into actor/director and finally an institution, who was secure enough in his future at the relatively youthful age of 43 to coast innocuously on his celebrity thereafter. It is at this juncture that Newman undertook sometimes risky forays into liberal politics and car racing and began the shift from traditional leading man to quirky character actor, more like a fatherly extension of his earlier anti hero roles in Hud (1963) or Cool Hand Luke (1967).
From Lax's perspective, a multitude of Newman's films derive their dramatic themes from strained or broken relationships between fathers and sons, something Newman had experienced firsthand. Moreover, the richness of characterization evident in his roles, ranging from the physically and emotionally crippled Brick Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) to the irresponsible Donald "Sully" Sullivan, who was eventually redeemed by the grace of resolution in Nobody's Fool (1994), pivoted upon Newman's ability to immerse himself within the outsider and identify with the perceived neglect. The implication that such an empathetic realization underscored his philanthropic efforts like Connecticut's Hole in the Wall Camp for severely ill children or the profits to charity base of his Newman's Own line of food products is hardly revelatory, although Newman attributes it all to luck. Lax's book, not a definitive biography, is an extraordinary collector's item, similar to a coffee table book with close to 100 photographs.

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooks with the dust jacket photograph, a stunning black & white shot of Paul Newman as Hud, one of his most famous roles. The written portion isn't bad either, taking the reader through the movie life, the private life, the racing life, and the charity life.

When a film star is as photogenic as Newman, one expects photos that emphasize those azure eyes, and this book does not disappoint in that area. This is a very good biography, easy to read, easy to view...one that can sit on the coffee table for guests and owners alike. The author doesn't delve too deeply, but then neither does he spend time trying to drudge up skeletons. A good read for a book that is getting harder to find.

Book Season = Summer (when the skies match the eyes)

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This appeared when I bought it to be a coffee table or picture book. The biographical written word is very good and not only explains much of Paul Newman's acting and directing career, but gives notice to his very successful auto racing, monumental charity gifts raised from the sale of "Newman" food products like salad dressing and popcorn, etc. It also gives detail of his family life, military life, stage success and his wife Joanne Woodward. If there was a weakness it appeared to me that nearly all the numerous photos were studio or marketing shots. In any case, a venture into the Unique character of Paul Newman.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course it's five starts, it's Paul Newman, for God's sake!