Book Review by: Christopher Wehner

I ordered it online before Christmas and I'll be damned if I wasn't depressed for having to wait until last week for the release of William Goldman's new book, "THE BIG PICTURE: Who Killed Hollywood and Other Essays."

From the writer who told us, "nobody knows anything," comes his new battle cry, "quality does not matter." (Well, it's not really new. This collection of essays covers the 1990s and if you were fortunate enough to read some of these already, you'll be happy to get them all in one book. ) If you're just looking for another book about how to write a screenplay, do not buy this one. His only memorable comment about screenwriting in the whole book appears on page 241, "Movie dialogue: it is among the least important parts of a screenplay." He goes on to tell us screenplays are about structure first and foremost. So there you have it.

But, if you're a movie enthusiast and tired of the same old mundane crap Hollywood has produced over the past ten years, during what is widely consider its artistically most flat decade ever, then this book is for you. Hollywood isn't producing the quality it once did, it instead substitutes blockbusters with dumbed down plots and CGI effects.

My first compliant, though the essays hold together chronologically and subject wise there are no anomalies, I don't feel as a whole the book holds together. I found myself wondering what the point was? Less would have been more for me. Goldman is drilling us constantly, chapter after chapter, on how dreadful movies are and how the state of the industry is crumbling. He points out the irony: the quality of the movie does not matter, as it was a record breaking decade. Hollywood made more money than ever before. People went to the movies in large numbers. Why? Are movie-goers just stupid? Maybe, maybe not, because on the other hand he's consoling us -- the audience -- for having to endure these shit movies... yet we're the idiots who are lining up to see WILD, WILD, WEST and TWISTER and so on, and we're doing so in spite of our inner-need for gratifying storytelling. We're an odd bunch.

"Nineteen-ninety-six was the worst year in Hollywood history." This is the very first sentence in the book's most important essay, "WHO KILLED HOLLYWOOD?" written in April, 1997. To understand this statement we'll need to read on, "Not movie history," writes Goldman but "Hollywood history." He continues, "Not in a year when FARGO came out. Not in a year that brought us THE ENGLISH PATIENT, SHINE, SECRETS & LIES, HAMLET, SLING BLADE..." No indeed, but why? Because these are not Hollywood made movies. Goldman points out, the only Hollywood studio film to be nominated for Best Picture was JERRY MAGUIRE. Even worse as Goldman says, "JERRY MAQUIRE was the only studio film that deserved to get a Best Picture nomination."

My next problem is with Goldman's analysis of Hollywood films versus Independent. In my opinion he uses a lame duck approach. It's so vague, and as he admits, there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. Independent films, according to Goldman, tend to teach us new things or attempt to shed light on new ways of looking at things, while Hollywood films are all about money. It's the "art" versus the "commerce." As if Independent producers aren't hoping to make some money and studio executives are not trying to make the next GONE WITH THE WIND in hopes of being forever immortalized.

As we know, 1996 was just the beginning. The biggest, most surprising smash hit of the 90's was THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, a small independent film that cost a mere thirty grand to make. Other big surprises? Let's back track. How about RESERVOIR DOGS and Rodriguez's EL MARIACHI, and the list could go on. Sure, the 1980's saw some independent films gain recognition like SEX, LIES AND VIDEO TAPE, but the 1990's tops them all in both "commerce" and "art."

So you really liked SAVING PRIVATE RYAN? Goldman spends over 12 pages talking about it, its cast and its director. "Wow," you must be thinking, "he really liked it." Yeah, guess again. There are times when I can't stand it because I'm laughing so hard, and there are other times when I'm thinking Goldman is just beating a dead horse. I would quote parts of it here, but it wouldn't do it justice, you'll just have to read it for yourself.

Throughout the book Goldman boldly breaks down the Oscars year by year, makes predictions with uncanny accuracy, and offers insights and information about our favorite films and stars of the 90's. He does all this with a flare and charm that has always drawn me to his writing. This book may anger you at times, surely it will make you laugh, and in the end you'll be glad you read it.