Rating: 
Summary: Thank God for Joe Eszterhas!
Review: Joe Eszterhas tries to do at least three things with AMERICAN RHAPSODY. The first, which he does best, is make the point as salaciously as possible that the behavior of Bill Clinton, especially (but not exclusively) with Monica Lewinski resulted in the election of George W. Bush. While this book is not about policy, the premise Eszterhas starts with is, "if Clinton was a great policy president, his behavior produced a successor who is in the process of more than reversing Clinton's achievements." Eszterhas never spells it out this way - that would be far too blunt. Instead, he subtly makes his point amidst prurience that is anything but subtle. In this respect, the book is nearly brilliant. Was Monica scandal about sex, lies and debauchery? Here's a version that's even more sleazy than the STAR REPORT. It still wasn't about those things. Were the Republicans scum? Here the Republicans were even scummier than the Democrats, who are portrayed by Eszterhas as pretty scummy. This is still beside the point. The point, I think Eszterhas was trying to make, was that the whole thing reversed all of what Clinton worked for. (Don't believe anyone who claims that this book is pro-Clinton. Eszterhas offers passing acceptance of Clinton's policy record and intentions as unimpeachable is meant as a, "So what if it is?" He's trying to make the point that even if you support Clinton's policies, the sex scandals were unforgivable - all the more so). If Eszterhas hits a high mark with his larger point, AMERICAN RHAPSODY's own excess keep it from greatness. Its excesses cannot be found in the book's dirty language, rumor-mongering and other trashy aspects. Eszterhas uses those things with more artistic merit here than he does in his movies. But Eszterhas needs an editor. He manages to stuff every idea that seemed good at the time into this overly-long book. The last 50 pages or so are particularly unnecessary, but really fat can be found throughout the book. Eszterhas other fault is his third goal, to tell the truth with fictional interludes which contrast the journalistically acceptable "true" narrative, which may or may not be believable. This is a shot at the media - Eszterhas, a fictional storyteller, is trying to show that he can get to the heart of the matter better than new-media journalists. Like the first point, there's a subtly to how Eszterhas attempts this point, but his frequent lapses into self-proclaimed fiction get old quickly. Fiction and non-fiction don't mix. Its not a device used often - and now I know why. But the best of AMERICAN RHAPSODY is worthwhile. The incident it covers is absurd, deserving of the absurdist rendition Eszterhas offers. I can imagine AMERICAN RHAPSODY enduring as an account of the Monica matter.
Rating: 
Summary: An outraged wail over a breach of faith
Review: Author/screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is a child of the 60's and 70's reared, by his own admission, on a steady diet of sex, drugs and rock `n' roll. Curiously, his first political hero was Senator/Presidential Candidate Goldwater. Why? Because Barry told it like it was. But LBJ won and Viet Nam escalated, followed by Nixon and Watergate. The lies were endless, and Joe was disgusted. Then, in 1992, along came William Jefferson Clinton, America's first President of the rock `n' roll generation. Eszterhas was ecstatic. Bill won't lie because "he's one of us". AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a powerful, bawdy, brilliant, full-frontal excoriation of Bill Clinton's almost-personal betrayal of the author's hopes and expectations. Because Bubba lied to America - about sex, his preoccupation with it, and his tawdry affair with the First Bimbo, Monica Lewinsky. Joe claims the bulk of the narrative is based on well-researched facts, though there's no bibliography of primary source material - a key omission, perhaps. Several of the chapters, presented in bold type, are admittedly fictitious monologues ascribed to several key players in this red, white and blue soap opera. As Eszterhas explores Bubba's promiscuity specifically, and that of Washington and Hollywood in general, the lead roles are reserved for Bill, "Willard", and Monica. The supporting cast is otherwise extensive: Hillary, Bob Dole, John McCain, James Carville, Arianna Huffington (the "Sorceress"), Matt Drudge, Linda Tripp (the "Ratwoman"), Ken Starr, Bob Packwood, Sharon Stone, Warren Beatty, Larry Flynt, and Vernon Jordan, plus cameos by Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick, and a bevy of others. The author ascribes particular significance to the lasting and pernicious influence of his personal bogeyman-under-the-bed, Richard Nixon (the "Night Creature). Why this is apparently so really isn't clear. (Get over it, Joe! Nixon is dead for Chrissakes!) And the reasons for including the Huffingtons, Dole, and McCain on the playbill are particularly hazy, although Eszterhas clearly admires the take-no-prisoners honesty of both McCain and Carville. Prominent utilization is also made of the two infamous props of the piece: The Cigar and the Stained Blue Dress. Though it could've benefited from tighter editing, AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a ribald, spirited, cheeky and fun read. It may stand as one of the definitive books on the Clinton Presidency. However, don't expect it to appear on your child's high school Political Science reading list anytime soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Blah Blah Blah
Review: This book just rambles on and on and never seems to end. I don't think I have ever been so disappointed in a book. Since I started to read it, I feel like I have to finish it. I am just praying for that day to come soon. I have to skip over entire paragraphs just to get through a chapter. It is overwhelming proof that hippies should NEVER write books.
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