Acting in the Cinema

Terrific book illuminates superior acting in film using various techniques. Naremore's choices are astute: he recognizes, for instance, Cary Grant's star turn in "North by Northwest" as the superb performance that it is; and I'll always be pleased that he wrote of Robert DeNiro as Rupert Pupkin in "King of Comedy" (rather than what at first seems the obvious choice -- his perfomance in "Raging Bull") for his study. The Pupkin role is certainly more clearly "about" performance, but it cheers me to see that underrated masterpiece lauded.This is an academic book, but a very readable one. Naremore is an engaging and observant writer whose passion for the subject is evident. Fine stuff.