Cahiers Du Cinema: The 1950's Neo-Realism, Hollywood, New Wave (Harvard Film Studies)

Rating:
Summary: A Must for Real Film Buffs.
Review: What a wonderful collection of essays written by one of the most intelligent groups ever to write (and some direct) about film. This book includes the staff of Cahiers du Cinema polemically discussing aesthetics, what creates an auteur, and debating the best directors of their time. (Each writer has their personal favorites of course, Bazin-Anthony Mann's westerns) All the essays are incredibly intellectual and strong knowledge of films of the 50s is necessary to even comprehend what they are speaking about. If you are familiar with the works of Renoir, Nicholas Ray, Robert Aldrich, Joseph Mankiwicz, Vittorio De Sica, Vincente Minnelli, Alan Resnais, Hawks, and Hitchcock, here is the place to find trenchant analysis into their works.
Some of the most brilliant essays, of course, comes from Andre Bazin, whom in certain circles is contested as the father of film theory (my favorites from Bazin in this collection are 'On the politique des auteurs' and his defense of Kurosawa's Living, following Luc Molluet's thorough trashing of the now considered classic).
Also this volume can contribute to your 'movies to see' lists for those real film buffs out there (if you can find them). The back of the book contains the Cahiers annual Best Films Listing from 1955-59.
For all the French-film lovin', director wannabees, artsy fartsy, snobbish, 'they don't make 'em like they use to' people like me this is a great book to pick up anytime. Just to read sober, intelligent essays on the art of filmmaking, and what these directors where trying to achieve decades ago. I personally read these essays with a smile, getting simple pleasures out of the high-brow ideologies these young writers/directors once had, and how they went on to change the face of cinema, forever.
This is truly a historical collection of essays. 5 out of 5.