JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell

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Summary: From John Kerry to Oliver Stone
Review: This book traces the author's journey from speechwriter and legislative aide to Senator John Kerry (who may be our next President) to collaborator and co-producer with Oliver Stone. It provides unique and unusual insights into the worlds of Washington and Hollywood from one who has been on the inside of both. It also contains provocative analysis of Stone's films JFK and Nixon, and presents a very believable scenario linking Dallas to Watergate. Should be read by anyone who is interested in politics and film, or vice versa.

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Summary: JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from
Review: This book was lousy fluff. The author is a testament to Washington/Hollywood self-absorption, and is very comfortable blaming the USA (and its' alleged CIA/Cuba connections) for all the world's wrongs. Meanwhile, the author is completely star-struck in the company of the totalitarian murderer, Fidel Castro. Go figure.

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Summary: Ambiguities in Lotus Land
Review: This is indeed an interesting, at times fascinating memoir of Hamburg's close and extended association with Oliver Stone. Such personal accounts are by nature selective and subjective. Fair enough. However, what I found disingenuous is Hamburg's ambivalent attitude toward Stone: On frequent occasion, he lavishly praises Stone as a filmmaker and seems almost desperate to ingratiate himself with him, to obtain his approval and even his praise; in other instances, he savages him as a womanizer, dope addict, and egomaniac. Were a film made based on this book, I see Stone playing himself and Hamburg played by an actor such as Tobey Maguire or perhaps Macaulay Culkin. After having read this book, I concluded that Stone is probably neither as admirable nor as corrupt as Hamburg presents him...and that Hamburg is neither as innocent nor as as venal as he (perhaps unknowingly) presents himself. I'm left wondering what Nathaniel West and Evelyn Waugh would have to say if they were to review this book.