Roger Ebert has been writing film reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times for nearly forty years. And during those four decades; his wide knowledge; keen judgment; prodigious energy; and sharp sense of humor have made him Americarsquo;s most celebrated film critic. He was the first such critic to win a Pulitzer Prizemdash;one of just three film critics ever to receive that honormdash;and the only one to have a star dedicated to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His groundbreaking hit TV show; At the Movies; meanwhile; has made ldquo;two thumbs uprdquo; one of the most coveted hallmarks in the entire industry. No critic alive has reviewed more movies than Roger Ebert; and yet his essential writings have never been collected in a single volumemdash;until now. With Awake in the Dark; both fans and film buffs can finally bask in the best of Ebertrsquo;s work. The reviews; interviews; and essays collected here present a picture of this indispensable criticrsquo;s numerous contributions to the cinema and cinephilia. From The Godfather to GoodFellas; from Cries and Whispers to Crash; the reviews in Awake in the Dark span some of the most exceptional periods in film history; from the dramatic rise of rebel Hollywood and the heyday of the auteur; to the triumph of blockbuster films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark; to the indie revolution that is still with us today. The extraordinary interviews gathered in Awake in the Dark capture Ebert engaging not only some of the most influential directors of our timemdash;Martin Scorsese; Steven Spielberg; Woody Allen; Robert Altman; Werner Herzog; and Ingmar Bergmanmdash;but also some of the silver screenrsquo;s most respected and dynamic personalities; including actors as diverse as Robert Mitchum; James Stewart; Warren Beatty; and Meryl Streep. Ebertrsquo;s remarkable essays play a significant part in Awake in the Dark as well. The book contains some of Ebertrsquo;s most admired pieces; among them a moving appreciation of John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to the virtues of black-and-white films. If Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris were godmother and godfather to the movie generation; then Ebert is its voice from withinmdash;a writer whose exceptional intelligence and daily bursts of insight and enthusiasm have shaped the way we think about the movies. Awake in the Dark; therefore; will be a treasure trove not just for fans of this seminal critic; but for anyone desiring a fascinating and compulsively readable chronicle of film since the late 1960s.
#2972772 in eBooks 2009-04-21 2015-01-05File Name: B00AM1T8F0
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great Reference for Avoiding Newbie PitfallsBy Michael KaneYeah; we have the same name; I just spell it right. I purchased this book in 2011 and have read it four or five times; in part because it has some excellent; film-specific tips -- and I completely disagree with one reviewer here who said he knew everything in the book from being in the corporate world; maybe a book on reading comprehension would better suit that particular commentator. One thing this book isnt about is actually getting that film or television role; its about how a newbie can avoid some of the pitfalls of their newbie-ness (and some veteran actors might do well to read it as well). Its entertaining; informative; and well-written. (There is an hour long video companion piece to it that really fleshes it out more technically; its available to watch on Youtube now; although I bought a copy when I bought the book.)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. FANTASTIC book on acting. Still relevant in 2017!By TylerI never thought Id be taking advice from Alfred from The Dark Knight trilogy; lol. Im a young guy so thats where I know Mr. Caine from :)This is a great read for actors looking for knowledge and tips on acting in film. Good for filmmakers; too. Probably requires several read-throughs as you progress during your career in film/television!Highly recommended!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Sparse and not what I was expecting at all.By Yuma LakeThis was a cobbled up "book" of bits and pieces -- glad I didnt pay for it; or Id be howling for a refund. A few fun anecdotes though; so not all was lost.