Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan... And Beyond: A Revised and Expanded Edition of the Classic Text

by RWood (Author)

New
Paperback
2003
$35.54

This classic of film criticism, long considered invaluable for its eloquent study of a problematic period in film history, is now substantially updated and revised by the author to include chapters beyond the Reagan era and into the twenty-first century. For the new edition, Robin Wood has written a substantial new preface that explores the interesting double context within which the book can be read-that in which it was written and that in which we find ourselves today. Among the other additions to this new edition are a celebration of modern screwball comedies like My Best Friend's Wedding, and an analysis of '90s American and Canadian teen movies in the vein of American Pie, Can't Hardly Wait, and Rollercoaster. Also included are a chapter on Hollywood today that looks at David Fincher and Jim Jarmusch (among others) and an illuminating essay on Day of the Dead.

Synopsis

This classic of film criticism, long considered invaluable for its eloquent study of a problematic period in film history, is now substantially updated and revised by the author to include chapters beyond the Reagan era and into the twenty-first century. For the new edition, Robin Wood has written a substantial new preface that explores the interesting double context within which the book can be read-that in which it was written and that in which we find ourselves today. Among the other additions to this new edition are a celebration of modern screwball comedies like My Best Friend's Wedding, and an analysis of '90s American and Canadian teen movies in the vein of American Pie, Can't Hardly Wait, and Rollercoaster. Also included are a chapter on Hollywood today that looks at David Fincher and Jim Jarmusch (among others) and an illuminating essay on Day of the Dead.

$35.54

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 480
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 15 Jul 2003
ISBN 10: 023112967X
ISBN 13: 9780231129671
Book Overview: This classic of film criticism, long considered invaluable for its eloquent study of a problematic period in film history, is now substantially updated and revised by the author to include chapters beyond the Reagan era. For the new edition, Wood has included a considerable new preface, a chapter celebrating My Best Friend's Wedding, a section on 90s American teen comedies such as American Pie and Can't Hardly Wait, a chapter on Hollywood today that looks at David Fincher and Jim Jarmusch (among others), and a helpful essay on Day of the Dead.

Media Reviews

Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan... and Beyond is one of the most impressive demonstrations by a film critic that 'to be political is to avoid the trivial.'... Wood's writing is rich, eloquent, and illuminating. If our culture is indeed facing the possibility of imminent extinction, his is an essential contribution to it. Film Comment Extremely valuable... Offers the first large-scale interpretation of a period of Hollywood (and independent) filmmaking that presents the serious moral, psychological, and historical issues at stake. American Film New to this edition are Wood's gutsy defenses of My Best Friend's Wedding and Heaven's Gate, discussions of Hollywood today and teen party pictures like American Pie, and an essay on Day of the Dead... recommended. Library Journal Wood's commentary-blending scholarly insight with a personal tone, knowledgeable about theory but not obscure, always interested in gender and sexuality but not overwhelmed by that interest-will engage students at all levels of preparation in film studies. Choice Robin Wood is a serious and important writer, and this is a serious and important book... [A] wonderful collection of essays. Film International

Author Bio

Robin Wood is a founding editor of CineAction and author of Hitchcock's Films Revisited (Revised Edition, Columbia, 2002) and Sexual Politics and Narrative Film (Columbia, 1998). He is professor emeritus at York University and the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Cinema Studies.