Getting Away with It: Or: The Further Adventures of the Luckiest Bastard You Ever Saw

Soderbergh (Sex, Lies and Videotape) interviews Lester (Hard Day's Night), interspersing the conversations with his own diary entries about writing (or more often, not writing) various film drafts and the multiple headache-related opportunities afforded by choosing to be part of the film industry. The self-deprecatory journal entries and the punitive footnotes are pretty funny - sort of a cross between Jonathan Ames (What's Not to Love?) and Simon Gray's various theatre diaries. The interview sections take us through Lester's films one by one - not an immensely detailed, blow by blow account, but the impression of frankness and ease with the fellow film-maker suggests that you get the to essence of Lester's work: insights which might not have emerged from a more conventional, or reverential, Q and A. Personally, I could have done without the "Where did life come from and what's it all for?" meanderings towards the end - surely The Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film says all that needs to be said on that particular subject? - but overall this is, as the "publisher's" note says at the beginning, "Literature that soothes and invigorates, while accidentally stimulating the body's own defenses" - well, it's as good a description as any.

Being a fan of his work/output over the past few years, Soderbergh's book of interview and journal entries appeared to be a must-buy. It proved to be quite interesting and very revealing. The Richard Lester interview pieces may drag in some parts (being unaware of Mr. Lester's own filmography, this may seem destined), yet the two directors do contemplate a variety of subjects outside of filmmaking (the purpose of man, religion, and many other topics). The journal entries are hilarious bits and pieces of the Writer's Deliema/Writer's Block. Soderbergh constantly engages and his bizarre sense of humor peppers the book (all of the footnotes, for instance).All in all, fascinating read, and it even turned me on to the films of Lester (bought "The Knack" the day after reading it).Bravo, Steve.

Finally, a window into Steven Soderbergh, the eclectic director of Schizopolis and Kafka. But I guess most people will know him as (in big flashy capital letters) "THE DIRECTOR OF ERIN BROCKOVICH & OUT OF SIGHT" as he's being billed now. I find it funny that Soderbergh is now considered this "Hollywood" director when, upon reading this book (and viewing his entire filmography), you find him almost the antithesis of your typical "Hollywood" personality. He's moody, self involved (in a good way), and a hilarious procrastinator.But that's just one half of the book. Intercut with Soderbergh's journal entries (which date from just after he finished 'Schizoplois' and 'Gray's Anatomy' to him helming 'Out of Sight)are a collection of interviews he has with Richard Lester, the groundbreaking director of "A Hard Days Night" and "The Knack" (which I just saw and absolutely loved). I have to confess I had not seen almost any of Richard Lester's work (not including the Superman movies of which I had no idea he was involved) and since all they talk about is Lester's films I found it uninteresting to read about movies I've never seen. I did though, through Soderbergh's praise, go and watch a number of Lester's movies and then went back and read the sections that discussed them.But the real magic of this book, at least to me and to all the Soderbergh-ites out there, is Soderbergh. His journal entries are insightful, funny, and really honest. And his style is so casual it feels like reading over letters from an old friend. I absolutely flew through his journal entries and enjoyed ever one of them. The great thing, from a fan's perspective and people interested in the movie business, is the honest, tiresome, struggle he shows of just surviving in Hollywood and the toll it takes on him. And since 'Schizopolis' may be my favorite Soderbergh movie, his journal entries being written at the time of it's release is an extra treat. And if you're a fan of Richard Lester you'll like this book even more.So I would absolutely recommend this book: it's funny, it's informational, it's inspiring, and it's refreshingly honest. Look forward to laughing a lot too; his musings on his own procrastination are comic gems.

Fans of Lester or Soderbergh will probably gain the most from this quick read -- an insightful conversation about making films and the creative process in general, accompanied by an entertaining diary written by Soderbergh before his acknowledged commercial breakthrough with "Out of Sight". Perhaps the most hilarious and witty moments come when these intelligent and engaging subjects veer off track and discuss such subjects as creationism, confidence and computers. Fans of Soderbergh's "Schizopolis" will particularly enjoy the author's several self-effacing moments, as well as the book's introduction. With the release of the restored "Hard Day's Night" and the upcoming "Traffic", this is the perfect time to get into the minds of these two visionaries....

Steven Soderberg has repeatedly proven that he is one of the best working filmmakers in the United States and the world with films like Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Out of Sight, The Limey, and others. Now he has, like Cameron Crowe and Francois Truffaut before him, sat down with one of his idols to discuss the filmmaking process. This book is not to be missed. The insight that both Soderberg and Richard Lester (both Palme d'Or winners) bring to that table about the state of filmmaking both today and in the past as well as the future. Included also is Soderberg's diary entries as he completes Gray's Anatomy and Schitzopolis. These alone are worth the price of admission. All in all, the best film book of 2000.