Excellent ... Not (just) an antiestablishment diatribe ... Fischer weaves an intricate tapestry of iconic films and remarkable artists against the background of an industry in the throes of wrenching change. He clearly thinks the suits won his subtitle’s 'Battle for the Soul of American Cinema,' and today’s movie landscape makes it hard to disagree. All the more reason to enjoy Fischer’s smart, juicy account of the time when a new kind of filmmaking came to the fore.
A breezy narrative as faux-intimate as its use of first names, as hyperbolic as its title ... For millions of moviegoers even slightly aware of the careers of these now-revered filmmakers, who are very much alive and thriving, this narrowly focused work offers only a smattering of new details.
Fischer has produced a really readable, closely researched account ... But it goes beyond the Great Man theory of history into something more like great men without history, lacking much analysis of the larger determinant forces and external problems ... Epic as this tale is, it’s in danger of missing the bigger picture.
Impressive ... Convincing ... Last Kings lacks solid discussion of film style. We know the three men are into Europe and the American underground; we only have a faint idea of the effect that had on their output. The highlights here are Fischer’s accounts of twisty interpersonal drama, which he sensitively weaves in.
With the enthusiasm of an avid fan, the even hand of a journalist, and the narrative skills of a screenwriter, Fischer interleaves the biographies of three Hollywood titans. [An] in-depth, behind-the-scenes book ... Rich in glitterati name-dropping and insight into the minutiae of movie creation, Fischer’s tell-all will cause film history buffs to swoon and will assuredly entertain any nostalgic moviegoer.
Entertaining ... Throughout, Fischer leverages a novelistic style that makes his extensive research and interviews a pleasure to read. This is a sure-fire hit for cinephiles.
The book devotes far more time to the business side of the film industry than to filmmaking itself. Readers who want the inside scoop on negotiations, boardroom meetings, and the like will be thrilled. Those interested in the technical aspects of film or the directing strategies used to elicit performances in The Godfather, Star Wars, Jaws, and the rest will come away hungry ... An industry-focused work on some of cinema’s influential figures.
