Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: If you're interested in movies, or Hollywood, or business, you desperately need this book. It is a wonderful book. And I'm not just saying that because I used to work with one of the co-authors of this book, who was also a bridesmaid at my wedding to another fellow co-worker, who had Peter Guber as a former counselor at Camp Brunonia. I realize that this "review" constitutes literary log-rolling, but if your friends won't stick up for you, who will? And it is a good book. Believe me, if Danielle Steel--or for that matter, Dawn Steel--had been a bridesmaid at my wedding, I wouldn't be writing this. So what are you waiting for? Put this title in your shopping cart and proceed to check-out.
Rating:
Summary: A different look at the Hollywood Machine
Review: Nancy Griffin and Kim Masters has written a interesting book about the two Hollywood Hustlers: Jon Peters and Peter Guber. The way they tell their side of the story makes it a wonderfull book. Just the part of the book, that tells to story og Sony and the purchase of Columbia and Tri-Star is worth every penny. You just sit back and wonder, how did they hustle their way all the way to the top.To read something else about Peters and Guber, I've strongly recommend "Burton on Burton", where Tim Burton gives his personal view on them.
Rating: 
Summary: hit and miss
Review: Plenty of good tidbits in here and an excellent feel for the way the insane Hollywood system works. The mix of muckraking, gossiping and moralizing, however, confuses as much as it delights. It's difficult to figure out a coherent timeline (one should have been provided as an appendix), and despite the title's focus on Guber and Peters, they disappear as the tale broadens out into a vast Sony story. Part of the point is that they DIDN'T do much, but it was odd to follow them up to that point and then have Peters' fate mentioned only as one of dozens of "where are they now?" bits in the epilogue. Interesting, but unfocused.--J. Ruch
Rating:
Summary: A compelling tale of a great Hollywood tragedy
Review: The authors have done an amazing job of compiling an incredible amount of information and assimilating it in a well-thought out and informative manner. The story of how Jon Peters and Peter Guber were able to so completely screw Sony is unbelievable. Yet, Kim Masters and Nancy Griffin boil all the subplots down into a manageable and compelling story that is completely accessible. It isn't often that a non-fiction book reads like a novel. An absolute must-read for anyone interested in the film industry.
Rating: 
Summary: Hit and Run
Review: The main characters Eddie,Scott,Winks and Cassie are all involoved in a horrible prank that nearly results in the death of the four. These teenagers are best friends. They are called the joke gang because they love making jokes. Although one of them doesent't find jokes as funny as the others do.They call him the scardey kats because he's very shy and timid and easy to play jokes on. Though Cassie,Winks, and Scott don't know that he plays a horrible joke on them that they'll never forget. One night they go out for a ride because they need to practice for their driving tests. They hit a man. After that night they are terrified. Someone starts scaring them and they have no idea who it is. They know that who ever is scaring them has to know them very well somehow. When they find out who it is doing all this they would of never expected it to be that person. I really liked this book because it was really entartainig. If you like scary stories I really recommend this one!
Rating:
Summary: Book is not really business like, but a GREAT read
Review: The myth of film production will be shattered once you read this book. Guber and Peters, people who would not survive in any other business other than the entertainment business, are given a free pass to create medicre films and become some of the most powerful players. This is coming from one of the guys who was once a hairdresser (showing that connections really is king in Hollywood). Candidly reveals those involved in Hollywood as unstable, unsure of themselves while being major egoists! One begins to wonder how movies can be made at all given the pull that comes from all sides. However, the role of the producer is still underplayed. I still don't know why one is required, but if they make all this money to yell and scream, maybe I should go to Hollywood, I can do that with the best of em! So if you ever wonder why most movies in Hollywood suck, don't blame the director or the actors, it's rarely their fault. it's more likely the "I think I know it all" producer took out all of the story to add in another 10 million dollars worth of special effects! Guys, at least go to film school.......
Rating:
Summary: As frightening as The Exorcist.
Review: This is one of those must-read Hollywood exposes, along the lines of "The Battle for Brazil" and "Indecent Exposure". It recounts the truly amazing story of how two small-timers in the business, Peter Gruber and Jon Peters, somehow rose to the top of the industry and headed Columbia Pictures for Sony...taking them on an incredible ride of excess and mismanagement. The real villan here though is Sony's seemingly endless series of bonehead moves during their purchase of Columbia, overpaying billions and putting their trust in two of the greatest flim-flam artists in Hollywood. Not only do they grossly overpay during the purchase, but they continue to pay and pay and pay...it really does boggle the mind. It's a ringing examination of the dangers of multi-culture dealings, and an entertaining, and truly frightening, trip through the Hollywood movie machine.
Rating:
Summary: As frightening as The Exorcist.
Review: This is one of those must-read Hollywood exposes, along the lines of "The Battle for Brazil" and "Indecent Exposure". It recounts the truly amazing story of how two small-timers in the business, Peter Gruber and Jon Peters, somehow rose to the top of the industry and headed Columbia Pictures for Sony...taking them on an incredible ride of excess and mismanagement. The real villan here though is Sony's seemingly endless series of bonehead moves during their purchase of Columbia, overpaying billions and putting their trust in two of the greatest flim-flam artists in Hollywood. Not only do they grossly overpay during the purchase, but they continue to pay and pay and pay...it really does boggle the mind. It's a ringing examination of the dangers of multi-culture dealings, and an entertaining, and truly frightening, trip through the Hollywood movie machine.
Rating:
Summary: A fast paced gossipy romp through Tinsel Town.
Review: This light and easy read is a wonderful tour through the world of business, money and excess in Hollywood. The book is the work of two skilled writers who tell wonderful stories based upon extensive interviews with Hollywood insiders.
It provides a vicarious trip and inside look into the deal making and excesses of greed and the
creative personality. A througly enjoyable trip, well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: a clunky read with a terrific story
Review: Two-author books are often not very seamless. That is the case with "Hit and Run". But hey, not to bother with trivialities. This is a fine account of the two hardy boys who swankered the Japanese out of BIG money in the Sony deal that even Hollywood hardliners found difficult to beleive. Peters' romance, such as it was, with Streisand is an interesting side note as well as are the descriptive accounts of such notorious bad boys as Walter Yetnikoff, Steve Roth and so many others. Isn't it amazing how two losers such as Peters (a former hairdresser) and Guber, a backstabber if there ever was one, could rise to such lofty positions of mediocrity. Read this for a fine insight into Hollywood, New York and the adventure that Sony has embarked on in recording and movies. It almost makes you feel sorry for the guys who brought us Pearl Harbor
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