Adventures of a Suburban Boy

My own take on John Boorman is that he CAN be a fine film director and sometimes he is. He's been responsible for some of the very best films of the last 40 years (HELL IN THE PACIFIC, DELIVERANCE, HOPE AND GLORY) and some of the absolute worst as well (ZARDOZ and EXCALIBUR, anybody?). As a memoir writer, however, he's first-rate, and what emerges is an engaging chronicle of his life both in the movies and out of them. His descriptions of how he developed each of his movies are always fascinating, and he has a huge streak of compassion for the people he's encountered throughout his life that makes his stories about them revealing without being vindictive. Boorman has been a director who has been more than willing to fall on his face any number of times reaching for what he believes might be a special cinematic moment, and this wonderful book goes a long way towards explaining the whys and wherefores of those aspirations. It hasn't changed my opinion about ZARDOZ one bit, but I now find it a lot easier to give him a thumbs-up for taking the risk to make it. Recommended.

I found myself trapped in an airport beginning a longish flight and this book was the single semi-appealing book available; once I started reading I was again trapped by his self-deprecating and insightful wit. How difficult it must be to make a good movie if someone as thoughtful, intelligent and sensitive as this only succeeds a small part of the time. An enjoyable book from the first with the added bonus of glimpses into the real lives of other artists and creators. I may be over-grateful because the book was much more than I expected or hoped - but I don't think so.

Boorman writes with great wit and humility about his career as a filmmaker, working his way up the ladder. He adds interesting stories about legends such as Lee marvin, Toshiro Mafuni, Neil Jordan, etc. He talks about the struggles of having his films made, and the fact that many filmakers ideas never make it to the screen. A very honest nad enlightening autobiography.