Who Killed Hollywood: Library Edition

Rating:
Summary: Only for those who don't read variety or GQ
Review: Bart's book is essentially an amalgamation of his Variety and GQ articles, rather than the more thought provoking discussion that the title implies. Nevertheless, Bart's articles are compelling and extremely well written, not to mention easily digestible with their 3-6 page lengths. Bart has some intriguing insights and his popularity in Hollywood has given him extraordinary access to his subjects. However, Bart seems to waver as to whether the Hollywood blockbusters he evicerates in his prologue are really killing Hollywood. In some essays, he longs for the days of Hollywood past, saying that the integrity and purity of these simpler times is long lost. Doubtlessly true. Yet, at other times, especially when talking about studio executives, Bart champions the idea of blockbusters and "summer tent-pole" movies. Rather than proposing a solution to Hollywood's woes, he sometimes champions its current status. With Bart's insight and the promise of the prologue, one should expect more out of this book. Yes, it is entertaining and insightful, but it would have been interesting for Bart to have given more extensive elaboration inbetween his articles. Too often, the seams show.

Rating:
Summary: Only for those who don't read variety or GQ
Review: Bart's book is essentially an amalgamation of his Variety and GQ articles, rather than the more thought provoking discussion that the title implies. Nevertheless, Bart's articles are compelling and extremely well written, not to mention easily digestible with their 3-6 page lengths. Bart has some intriguing insights and his popularity in Hollywood has given him extraordinary access to his subjects. However, Bart seems to waver as to whether the Hollywood blockbusters he evicerates in his prologue are really killing Hollywood. In some essays, he longs for the days of Hollywood past, saying that the integrity and purity of these simpler times is long lost. Doubtlessly true. Yet, at other times, especially when talking about studio executives, Bart champions the idea of blockbusters and "summer tent-pole" movies. Rather than proposing a solution to Hollywood's woes, he sometimes champions its current status. With Bart's insight and the promise of the prologue, one should expect more out of this book. Yes, it is entertaining and insightful, but it would have been interesting for Bart to have given more extensive elaboration inbetween his articles. Too often, the seams show.

Rating:
Summary: That's Entertainment
Review: Here are articles that offer insights into the way the entertainment industry really works and what the stars and directors are really like. It provides an antidote to celebrity journalism which is just a collection of puff pieces. It's a fascinating read.

Rating:
Summary: It takes chutzpah
Review: It takes chutzpah, or arrogance, or an attitude of "maybe there's a buck in it" to put out a book such as this which is a collection of columns written by self opinionated Mr Bart for GQ and Variety. On the other hand it may be just another sign of the "dumbing down of the West" . I'm one of the dumb ones who bought it and in HARDCOVER (albeit remaindered). Not particularly well written but cashing in on the fact that he mixes with the rich and famous so suckers like me will fork out good money to find out his "insights" into the way Hollywood works. Save your money. Can be read IN TOTAL in about 30 minutes.

Rating:
Summary: Variety readers beware!
Review: letter to Mr. Bart:

Is Hollywood that boring that you have to collect old essays to tell us Who Killed Hollywood? Your laziness is exactly what you criticize people in Hollywood for, doing things for the sake of a profit. I was exepecting a new book with your views of what's going on in Hollywood not old essays from Variety and the dreaded GQ. Shame! Shame!

Rating:
Summary: Who killed Hollywood? Actually, nobody despite what
Review: Peter Barts thinks. He is an insider who longs for the good old days when people like him welded more power. He cries about it in his book consisting mostly of his old columns. He tackles all the players in the movie making business. First, the old mogols & new money men, people we have all have heard of. He heaps scorn on agents we haven't heard of. People whose inflated egos are only surpassed by their greed according to Mr. Bart. He moves on to the stars, the directors & their movies. The well known flops & hits are reviewed. It is a bit dated now as this book consist of columns from as far back as ten years ago. He points to the acendency of agents & managers over the money suppliers, thru their access to the actors & directors. Many agents & managers fancy themselves as producers which they are not, merely as a way to make more money for their clients & in turn themselves. The lose of the the studio system, that Mr. Bart was a part of is what he misses. So he wrote about it & in the process was able to squeeze some more $$$ out of his old columns without too much effort. Nice gig for him. He is a pretty good writer & I enjoyed this audio version.