{"product_id":"steven-spielberg-the-iconic-filmmaker-and-his-work-9780711295230","title":"Steven Spielberg: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis comprehensive and in-depth study delves into the life and works of the most famous director who has ever lived, Steven Spielberg.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Spielberg is \u003cb\u003ethe medium's defining artist\u003c\/b\u003e--the embodiment of the Hollywood ideal: the commercial potential of film married to its creative possibilities. He's widely popular, but he's also a stylist, and far darker than he is given credit for. Often, it is this very darkness that speaks to us. But, it's also \u003cb\u003ehis incredible knack for telling stories with lightness that speaks to millions, by mixing the extraordinary with the ordinary\u003c\/b\u003e. His leading characters, even Indiana Jones, are marked by their vulnerability, their mistakes, their yearning. It's the human touch. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e There are \u003cb\u003eso many parts to Spielberg's story\u003c\/b\u003e: the suburban background that supplied the films with a biographical streak; the collaborations (with George Lucas and the Movie Brats in general, with composer John Williams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, editor Michael Khan, stars Richard Dreyfus, Harrison Ford, and Tom Hanks, and mogul and mentor Sid Sheinberg). The myths that bloomed from the making of these films.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eThe nightmare shoot and stubborn shark behind \u003ci\u003eJaws\u003c\/i\u003e. The \u003cb\u003estrange ambitions of \u003ci\u003eClose Encounters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. Dive bombing with \u003ci\u003e1941\u003c\/i\u003e. Inventing \u003ci\u003eIndiana Jones\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cb\u003eRe-inventing the blockbuster \u003c\/b\u003ewith \u003ci\u003eJurassic Park\u003c\/i\u003e. Venturing into history's darkest shadows with \u003ci\u003eSchindler's List\u003c\/i\u003e. Transforming a genre with\u003ci\u003e Saving Private Ryan\u003c\/i\u003e. The \u003cb\u003emuscular, unpredictable, confrontational \u003c\/b\u003eSpielberg of \u003ci\u003eMinority Report\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMunich\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLincoln\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e And then there is his family. How his films, even late in his career--lionized, untouchable--went \u003cb\u003ein search of approval from his parents\u003c\/b\u003e. Just as he has craved the approval of his peers. That fateful Oscar took so long in coming... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Defining, appreciating, contextualizing, and understanding the films of Spielberg is a tall order. Their simplicity is deceptive. You have to cut through the glow, the adoration, the simple joy that comes with their embrace, and get to \u003cb\u003ethe thrust of the filmmaking\u003c\/b\u003e. Sourcing the inspirations, locating the critical nuance, the nurtured performance, and the recurrent theme--\u003cb\u003eso many of his films have become timeless\u003c\/b\u003e--this book celebrates all this and more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIan Nathan\u003c\/b\u003e, who lives and works in London, is one of the UK's best-known film writers. He is the author of nine previous books, including \u003ci\u003eAlien Vault\u003c\/i\u003e, the best-selling history of Ridley Scott's masterpiece, \u003ci\u003eTerminator Vault\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTarantino, Tim Burton\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Coen Brothers\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAnything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the former editor and executive editor of \u003ci\u003eEmpire\u003c\/i\u003e, the world's biggest movie magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He also regularly contributes to \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Independent\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Mail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCahiers Du Cinema\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eDiscovering Film\u003c\/i\u003e documentary series on Sky Arts. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"White Lion Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50875238121746,"sku":"9780711295230","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_64ea272d-53cf-4cd0-be50-84d253ca1573.jpg?v=1738283732","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/steven-spielberg-the-iconic-filmmaker-and-his-work-9780711295230","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}