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

Book Description

A revealing insider's look at one of Hollywood's most prominent, private, and notoriously difficult directors; at the way the film business works; and at the Washington/Hollywood connection. JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me is the funny, thoughtful memoir of an accomplished former Congressional staffer who left D.C. for Hollywood and a job with Oliver Stone, hoping to help make politically engaged films and a difference, and found himself instead in a wildly dysfunctional universe ruled by greed, paranoia, narcissism, competition, alcohol and drugs. After finishing law school, Eric Hamburg became an unusually effective young staffer on Capitol Hill-convincing his boss, Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, to submit a bill that would release the House's closely held files on the John F. Kennedy assassination investigation, one of Hamburg's own pet obsessions. This led to his meeting Oliver Stone and soon-much to his own surprise-Hamburg found swimming amongst the sneakiest of Hollywood sharks. Hamburg describes his fascinating experiences working on the films Nixon and Any Given Sunday while navigating the arcane politics of Stone's studio, Ixtlan. Pursuing film projects (and Kennedy assassination leads), he also muses on the ways and means of the movie biz; on the strange symbiotic Washington/Hollywood relationship; on the meaning of success and the price of power. His story is a contemporary Mr. Smith Goes to Hollywood, told by a narrator of wit, intelligence, and a singular set of experiences.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting story, but reads like a tabloid........2005-12-27

I bought this book at an inventory clearance, which proved an accurate guide to my expectations. It is the story of a lawyer working as a congressional aide who parlayed his interest in the JFK assassination to become a production assistant to Oliver Stone. The title refers to films of the latter, not JFK and Nixon themselves.
The idea of an intelligent, idealistic outsider learning firsthand about the machinations of Hollywood is certainly intriguing, and this is what the subtitle suggests the theme will be. However, this theme becomes subverted to two parallel, personal agendas of the author: 1. a forum for his own speculations about the "truth" regarding the JFK assassination and Watergate, and 2. a catharsis for the estrangement he suffered from Stone in the wake of their collaboration. Towards the end, it reads like an open letter to Stone, pleading for his rehabilitation from a self-destructive lifestyle. For those who like conspiracy theories and juicy gossip about celebrities, this will be a bonus. Personally, I was hoping to learn more about the process by which Oliver Stone gets his movies made, and less about the shortcomings of the man without whom, I think it is fair to say, there would be no market for this book.
At one point, Hamburg writes that he came to Hollywood to "learn how to make political films, not do business deals." Perhaps this was meant to be ironic, since after finishing reading his story, it appears to me that film-making is all about business deals. In fact, it would have been interesting to learn how Oliver Stone arranges the funding to realize his creative vision (and hedonistic lifestyle). Here, there are only a few dismissive comments about seedy-sounding "money men".
One of the useful aspects of this book is its overview of contemporary published opinion on the JFK assassination and Watergate. A bibliography listing the works mentioned throughout the text would have been helpful.

Overwrought and a bit pretentious.......2005-11-30

Hamburg obviously writes for a different genre, allegedly screenwriting. And while ascribing himself much credit, his prose falls largely flat. Many of the sentences read on a basic level, a recitation of his accomplishments, marginal people he met, and esoteric details that are painful to dig through. For the Stone fan, an interesting read, for the average person, it has its moments. But its material, and its potential, is so much greater than what Hamburg delivers. For all the material possible, the book delivers flat. It's not worth the money and not really worth the time. It often reads as Hamburg's diary entries, with most chapters being a scant three or four pages, rather than a real story about great opportunities and fascinating characters. Hamburg is also a constant name-dropper, for almost no discernable reason. It seemed as though Hamburg's insights were immature, overwrought, and full of snide commentary and self promotion. It's no coincidence that his career centers on the two parts of the country that hype both: Hollywood and Washington.

Book Report by Brent Simon - JFK, Nixon, Stone.......2003-05-22

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me

Eric Hamburg

Public Affairs

reviewed by Brent Simon

A deliciously, amazingly illuminating account of Tinseltown excess, Eric Hamburgýs JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me recounts an idealistýs journey from Capitol Hill to Hollywood hell. A terrifically entertaining read disguised with a memoirýs overcoat, Hamburgýs book details his occupational pilgrimage from legislative assistant under influential House of Representatives member Lee Hamilton to his position at director Stoneýs Ixtlan Films, where he handled legal and business affairs while also initiating the ideas that would in time come to take shape as the films Nixon and Any Given Sunday.

Itýs a very personal book, and draws almost exclusively from the authorýs remembrances and journal entries of the time covered. This means first there is some overlap, both thematically and in detail; Hamburg sometimes repeats himself even closely within the text in a manner unacceptable for top-shelf reportage. He even blatantly misidentifies Reese Witherspoon as Brooke Shields at point. Still, these occasional faux pas (was the book even edited?) do not blunt the tomeýs power or change its bottom line.

For those interested in the ins and outs of high-end cinematic wheeling and dealing, Hamburgýs book is chock full of tasty firsthand details about Oliver Stoneýs peccadilloes and a myriad of ever-rotating but always kooky projects he pursued in bits and pieces. Of the latter, most intriguing were planned biopics on J. Edgar Hoover and Manuel Noreiga (Al Pacino graciously refused $10 million from a pay-or-play deal when it fell apart), plus movies on Afghanistan, Stoneýs obsessive hatred of columnist Maureen Dowd (known in various iterations as Media and Power) and even a possible sequel to JFK, which was the project Stone was working on when Hamburg first met him. The details of the directorýs disastrous personal life are even more vivid and revelatory: Stoneýs ceaseless drug abuse, irrational flare-ups, legendary cheapness, interpersonal abrasiveness and possible shaping youthful sexual encounter(s) with his motherý yikes!

Most unnerving, though, are Hamburgýs stories of his dealings and interactions with Danny Halsted, a former Disney exec who wormed his way into Stoneýs production company and whom Hamburg refers to here almost exclusively as "Danny the Weasel." To recount the many jaw-dropping instances of Halstedýs idiocy, conniving, theft and general disreputable behavior would take too much space here, but suffice to say that it both represents and confirms all the worst youýve ever heard or suspected about Hollywood suits masquerading as creative executives. This isnýt a horror novel, but at times JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me ranks right up there with the most unsettling of Stephen Kingýs works.

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from.......2003-05-20

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.

Book Review from the Hollywood Reporter 12/24/02.......2003-03-08

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone Dec. 24, 2002 By Michael Farkash Eric Hamburg Public Affairs,464 pages As the song goes, "Paranoia strikes deep." That's one of the central experiences of a savvy political aide and speechwriter who went to work for writer-director-producer Oliver Stone. Eric Hamburg's "JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me: An Idealist's Journey From Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell" is a sharp, well-written book that tunes into some familiar territory, notably the bad, mad geography of film production politics and the decades-old mysteries surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy and the Cuban connection. The book is very accessible, very readable and filled with admiration for professionals like Anthony Hopkins and mixed, mostly angry assessments of Stone and the people surrounding the filmmaker. The dark byways of the film biz should have been no surprise for the bright, politically astute Hamburg, who worked for years on Capitol Hill -- but then, hearing about the nasty, difficult parts of the film production process and living them are two quite different things. Serving as a producer and development executive at Stone's production company, Ixtlan, the author originated and won co-producing credits on the films "Nixon" and "Any Given Sunday." He explores the paranoid, vain, greedy, sometimes drug-fueled aspects of Stone's world of film development, where solid ground can often give way to a quicksand of uncertainty. Using his Washington connections, Stone's name and persistence, Hamburg was able to get key figures from the JFK and Nixon years to meet with him and Stone and persuade them to contribute stories and background to Stone's films. He also shares with us his research trips to places like Cuba and a brief meeting with Fidel Castro. But Hamburg became quickly disenchanted with what he calls the "Oliver Zone" -- suspicions, dark rages, drug use and a habit of playing staff people against one another. It's like royal court intrigue. Writes Hamburg: "Oliver was moody and unpredictable, often irrational and absolutely insane when it came to money. This was a very dangerous subject with him. "However, Hamburg received some good advice -- those three little words that mean everything in negotiations: "Hire a lawyer." In case the reader wonders if film development is a habit-forming occupation -- Hamburg continues working as a producer and writer in Los Angeles.

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Scarface: The Movie Scriptbook
Oliver Stone
Manufacturer: IDW Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1600100953

Book Description

Relive the epic '80s movie staple of greed, success and excess! IDW presents this special printing of Oliver Stone's notorious screenplay, telling the story of Tony Montana and his grab for ultimate power in cocaine-obsessed Miami.

JFK: The Book of the Film (Applause Screenplay Series)

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Quite Literally, Arlen Specter Didn't Come Up With The "Single-Bullet Theory" -- The Autopsy Doctors Sprouted The "SBT" Seeds
an epic, the least to say.
Travesty
"Even The Shooters Don't Know"
Exhilirating and thought-provoking

JFK: The Book of the Film (Applause Screenplay Series)
Oliver Stone , and Zachary Sklar
Manufacturer: Applause Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1557831270

Book Description

A documented screenplay of the Oliver Stone film, complete with historical annotation, with 340 research notes and 97 reactions and commentaries by Norman Mailer, Tom Wicker, Gerald R. Ford, and many others. "It's a lesson in craft to watch JFK on video while reading along, charting what got cut, softened, and rethought." -Entertainment Weekly

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Quite Literally, Arlen Specter Didn't Come Up With The "Single-Bullet Theory" -- The Autopsy Doctors Sprouted The "SBT" Seeds.......2006-01-09

In Oliver Stone's 1991 motion picture "JFK" (and in this book version of that film), a major stepping "stone" to "conspiracy" that's used by Mr. Stone (and nearly all other conspiracy theorists who have studied the John F. Kennedy assassination since that sad event occurred in 1963) is the contention that the controversial "Single-Bullet Theory" is and was a completely preposterous myth that could never have happened in a million lifetimes, and was placed into the Warren Commission's final report re. the Kennedy assassination solely out of NECESSITY. I, however, cannot disagree more strongly with such an allegation.

While it's true that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is given the most credit for having come up with the "Single-Bullet Theory" to explain the simultaneous wounding of President Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally -- as a point of fact, the "SBT" was in reality "More Than Half Way Home" (so to speak) as early as November 23rd, 1963 (well before Mr. Specter had ever gazed at any of the evidence in the JFK assassination case).

Why? --- Because the seeds that ultimately sprouted the wholly-acceptable and utterly-logical "Single-Bullet Theory" are right there in the November 1963 autopsy report signed by Drs. Humes, Boswell, and Finck.

It wasn't Arlen Specter who just arbitrarily decided (on a whim or ON HIS OWN) that a single bullet had gone completely through the upper back of President Kennedy and had exited his throat in the front. It was the AUTOPSY DOCTORS who made this critical determination on November 23, 1963 (one day after Kennedy's death and the FIRST DAY when ALL available and required information had been assembled and evaluated by the autopsy doctors; i.e., the first day when Drs. Humes, Boswell, and Finck had any knowledge at all that a bullet hole had been located in the front of President Kennedy's neck).

The remainder of the SBT was, of course, pieced together in the early portions of 1964 by Specter (and probably other WC people as well) while utilizing other important information and evidence surrounding the assassination.

The WC testimony of Robert Frazier of the FBI was an integral part of the "SBT puzzle". Frazier testified to the very important information about there having been no limousine damage in the rear-seat areas of the vehicle, proving that no bullet or bullets had penetrated the back seats or the Connally "jump" seats; nor did any whole or nearly-whole bullet(s) come to rest anywhere near JFK's or Connally's seats on 11/22/63.

And there's, of course, the other vital (bodily) link in the "SBT chain" -- John Connally's body and his wounds (with the "elongated" entry wound on the Governor's back being a tell-tale sign that the bullet which struck Mr. Connally almost certainly had hit something or someone else first before entering the Governor's back); plus the lack of ANY bullets in Connally's body (and none found in JFK's body either, which was determined at his autopsy); and the determination by Connally's doctor (Dr. Shaw) that Connally's wounds were all most likely caused by just one single bullet.

Which leads us to the ONLY BULLET ever discovered anywhere near the victims that could have been linked in any fashion to the wounds sustained by Kennedy and/or Connally (the non-fatal wounds to JFK that is) -- famous Bullet #CE399, which was found on a stretcher at Parkland Hospital by Darrell Tomlinson prior to 2:00 PM (CST) on 11/22/63, which would have been a ludicrous time for any conspirator(s) to have wanted to "plant" such a bullet -- because it was WAY TOO SOON to know for certain if OTHER missiles would be recovered from either of the victims, other bullets which (if found) would have rendered a "Planted CE399" completely useless and superfluous and, above all, PLOT-BLOWING!

CE399 was linked to Lee Harvey Oswald's Mannlicher-Carcano rifle (to the exclusion of every weapon ever made), and, via NAA analysis, that very same bullet has been linked (with near certainty) to the bullet fragments removed from the wrist of wounded Governor Connally.

Given all of the above (in its totality), can someone please explain how in the "Real World" (where most of the population resides) the Warren Commission could have come to any conclusion OTHER than the Single-Bullet scenario to explain all of these above-mentioned factors?

Obviously, they could not have explained the wounds themselves (and the wounds' physical arrangement on the two victims' bodies)....and the lack of bullets....and the lack of limo damage via ANY other logical and reasonable way -- other than to say what the Warren Commission ultimately did say: One single missile (CE399) travelled through John Kennedy's upper body, exited his throat, entered John Connally's back (sideways), traversed the Governor's chest (taking out a rib en route), exited the Governor's chest just below the right nipple, continued on its flight into Connally's right wrist, then exited the wrist where it became spent in the Governor's left thigh .... where it then was dislodged at some point (in the car or in the hospital), ending up on Governor Connally's stretcher, where the bullet was then discovered by hospital employee Darrell Tomlinson at approximately 12:50 PM to 12:55 PM, Dallas time, on November 22nd, 1963.

But the literal genesis of the Single-Bullet Theory lies NOT within the Warren Commission or Arlen Specter specifically -- it lies in the autopsy report itself, a report which was signed by three different doctors WEEKS before the Warren Commission even began to assemble its panel of counsel members and legal assistants (which didn't occur until mid-December 1963).

Let's have a look (verbatim) at just exactly what was determined to be the truth concerning the details of President Kennedy's back and neck wounds as of November 23, 1963 (six days before the Warren Commission was even created):

"Summary: Based on the above observations, it is our opinion that the deceased died as a result of two perforating gunshot wounds inflicted by high-velocity projectiles, fired by a person or persons unknown. The projectiles were fired from a point behind and somewhat above the level of the deceased. .... The fatal missile entered the skull above and to the right of the external occipital protuberance. .... The other missile entered the right superior posterior thorax above the scapula and traversed the soft tissues of the supra-scapular and the supra-clavicular portions of the base of the right side of the neck. This missile produced contusions of the right apical parietal pleura and of the apical portion of the right upper lobe of the lung. The missile contused the strap muscles of the right side of the neck, damaged the trachea, AND MADE ITS EXIT THROUGH THE ANTERIOR SURFACE OF THE NECK. As far as can be ascertained, this missile struck no bony structures in its path through the body."* (Added emphasis my own.)

* = From Page 6 of the Official Autopsy Report on President John F. Kennedy (aka: "Pathological Examination Report"); Bearing the signatures of all three doctors who were present at JFK's 11/22/63 autopsy at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Maryland; Signed by: Commander James J. Humes, Commander J. Thornton Boswell, and Lt. Col. Pierre A. Finck.

--------------

The above passages from John F. Kennedy's official medical legal autopsy report absolutely destroy the idea spouted by conspiracy theorists of TWO separate bullets striking the back and neck areas of President Kennedy. And, in essence, this reference to an 'Into-The-Back-And-Out-The-Neck' bullet path, as described by JFK's autopsy doctors, results in (literally) two-thirds of the "Single-Bullet Theory" being purported just ONE DAY after Kennedy's death. The "two-thirds" being -- An OFFICIAL explanation by the autopsy doctors themselves linking .... #1.) The entry wound on JFK's upper back to .... #2.) The exit wound on the front of his neck.

Why it is that the word of ALL THREE of these pathologists who signed off on the Official Autopsy Report describing the wounds of a murdered American President are tossed into the nearest ash can by virtually ALL conspiracy promoters is something I have a difficult time reconciling (except to say that the "CTers" desperately NEED that autopsy report to be dead-wrong in order to further the notion that THREE separate bullets struck JFK and John Connally that day in Dallas, instead of just the one "SBT" missile).

But the OFFICIAL record is crystal clear regarding the back and neck wounds to President Kennedy....and has been crystal clear since November of 1963.

To repeat this ultra-important point -- The doctors said that just ONE bullet passed clean through John F. Kennedy!!

Therefore -- unless every last one of these three autopsy doctors are (to a man) hopeless and utter incompetents or all three of them are lying scumbags who would deliberately falsify the most important autopsy report any of them would ever sign in their entire lives -- then the very first (and verifiably-TRUE) seeds and important links to the Single-Bullet Theory lie in that 1963 Autopsy Report -- and not just in Arlen Specter's mind (nor in any unsubstantiated "theory" placed on the table by Mr. Specter alone, as many CTers seem to believe).

Conspiracy theorists should begin to accept the obvious -- that "obvious" being: the Single-Bullet Theory is the most logical and valid scenario to explain the seven wounds sustained by John F. Kennedy and John B. Connally in Dealey Plaza. And it is the ONLY possible explanation of the event that stands up to critical scrutiny, detailed analysis, and common-sense interpretation of the evidence when the ENTIRE batch of Single-Bullet-favoring evidence is gathered together in the same place.

Denying this fact is to play Oliver Stone's game -- a game highlighted by mystery killers firing from the Grassy Knoll, unexplainable disappearing bullets, and a series of bullet holes (made by THREE different gunmen) in TWO different victims that mirror a SINGLE-BULLET EVENT so closely as to be deemed "perfect" for the adoption of the "SBT" in the months following the shooting.

And I ask with the utmost sincerity -- Who in their right mind would have any desire to play that conspiracy-filled game of impossible-to-pull-off nonsense? Not I, that's for certain.

an epic, the least to say........2004-03-04

Among all the stories which popup every day, this is one story that we should tell our children exactly how and why it happened, the book as the movie did, presented the whole enigma in such a fantastic realistec way, you feel actually living with the characters breathing with them, at times joining in discussions... the complexity and huge number of names and sides in the story means it is not for teatime at all, you really need to concentrate well with this one.
The event was a trajidy no question about it, and what the late Mr.Garrison tried to do was to prevent what we are witnessing nowadays by disclosing the truth, to tell the truth is a courageous mission, to stick to it and face such enormous powers ready to do any thing even kill the president is even harder.
I do recommend that we should have a copy of this story whether as a book or as film, for the sake of history which is always twisted by the claws of the most powerful .

Travesty.......2002-09-04

This is an absolute travesty. Every possible conspiracy element - discredited or not - is added in. Garrison's investigation of the innocent Clay Shaw - the least substantive theory - is the platform for Stone's delusions. And it would HAVE to be about the Vietnam War wouldn't it !
Take one example, the three tramps arrested in Dealey Plaza: Stone has them armed in the film , but they were not connected in any way and were later released.Read Anthony Summers instead and ignore this rubbish.

"Even The Shooters Don't Know".......2001-02-24

"JFK, The Book of the Film "is really an extraordinary achievement....

The screenplay incorporates practically every rumor, fact, factoid, and theory regarding the events of November 22, 1963.

Almost every line of dialouge is meticulously footnoted....

The second half of the book is a compendium of op-ed articles both in defense of and attacking (as in the case of Tom Wicker, Alexander Cockburn, et al) both Oliver Stone and the film. At times these attacks seem both humorless and hysterical ("hey guys..it's a MOVIE!")

Though the book is ten years old, I find myself taking it off the shelf every six months or so to browse both the screenplay and the media barrage surrounding it.

A great book!

Exhilirating and thought-provoking.......2000-10-01

Possibly the smartest screenplay ever written for an American political film. People tend to respond to this movie according to their own beliefs and conspiracy theories, instead of respecting the brilliant technique with which screenwriters Oliver Stone & Zachary Sklar bring these familiar events to new life. Not for the literal-minded, perhaps, but a brilliant construction, a movie that shakes up assumptions and makes you think. Worth a second look, on video and on paper.

Laurel or Hardy: The Solo Films of Stan Laurel and Oliver "Babe" Hardy

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Tremendous resource, poorly written
The Most Comprehensive Book on the Films of Laurel and Hardy
Superbly and (almost) Exhaustively Researched
An excellent companion piece to Laurel and Hardy by Skretved
A book that is essential to the study of silent film comedy.

Laurel or Hardy: The Solo Films of Stan Laurel and Oliver "Babe" Hardy
Rob Stone , and David Wyatt
Manufacturer: Split Reel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0965238407

Customer Reviews:

Tremendous resource, poorly written.......2003-02-09

This is indeed, like the other reviewers have stated, the most complete foray into the subject matter to date. It's too bad that the author's abilities at unearthing such treasures were not matched by a very readable writting style. Five stars for effort and material and one star for readability equals a three star rating.

The Most Comprehensive Book on the Films of Laurel and Hardy.......2002-04-02

...I have ever read. BEST BOOK EVER!

Superbly and (almost) Exhaustively Researched.......2000-01-27

Rob Stone is to be congratulated for taking on the Herculean (and seemingly impossible) task of documenting all of Stan Laurel's and Babe Hardy's solo film appearances. The comedians frequently worked for small studios that are long since gone, and many of the films apparently no longer exist. Stone has done a superb job of detective work and documentation, and leaves open the possibility of further discoveries; indeed, since this book was published, a previously unknown Oliver Hardy film has surfaced! An essential volume for silent film and comedy buffs. And for fans of the boys, this is a great companion piece to both THE MAGIC BEHIND THE MOVIES and FROM THE FORTIES FORWARD.

An excellent companion piece to Laurel and Hardy by Skretved.......1999-07-19

This eminently affordable 573 page book is meticulously researched and written by an author who knows his stuff. "Laurel or Hardy" is a must have for any fan of the team -- indeed for anyone who loves silent movies. The book is the perfect companion piece to Randy Skretvedt's invaluable "Laurel and Hardy; the Magic Behind the Movies."

A book that is essential to the study of silent film comedy........1999-05-02

To take on the assignment of creating a filmography of Oliver Hardy was a duanting if not impossible task to undertake. But Rob Stone has done it. I would estimate that he has confirmed 95% of Mr. Hardy' films of his early career. To say that this book serves the needs of Laurel & Hardy infophiles is selling it short. It also gives a rich and informative history of silent film comedy making and it's makers, with information of other studios and stars who are not well known. More films and titles are likely to show up making the second edition a must. Bravo. An excellent companion piece for "Laurel & Hardy - The Magic Behind the Movies".

Oliver Stone's USA: Film, History, and Controversy (Culture America)

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Great Work Of Debate And Intellectual Issues.
Junk
"Lunch Is For Wimps!"

Oliver Stone's USA: Film, History, and Controversy (Culture America)

Manufacturer: University Press of Kansas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0700610359

Book Description

Challenging audiences and leaving critics in disarray, the films of Oliver Stone have compelled viewers to reexamine many of their most revered beliefs about America's past. Like no other filmmaker, Stone has left an indelible mark on public opinion and political life, even as he has generated enormous controversy and debate among those who take issue with his dramatic use of history.

This book brings Stone face-to-face with some of his most thoughtful critics and supporters and allows Stone himself ample room to respond to their views. Featuring such luminaries as David Halberstam, Stephen Ambrose, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Walter LaFeber, and Robert Rosenstone, these writers critique Stone's most contested films to show how they may distort, amplify, or transcend the historical realities they appear to depict.

These essays--on Salvador, Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, The Doors, JFK, Heaven and Earth, Natural Born Killers, and Nixon--enlarge our understanding of Stone's films, while also giving us a fuller appreciation of the filmmaker as artist and intellectual. They reveal how Stone's experience in Vietnam colors his views of American government and corporate culture and suggest new ways of looking at the complex tensions between art and history that shape Stone's films.

In response, Stone offers an articulate and passionate defense of his artistic vision. Disavowing once and for all the mantle of "cinematic historian," Stone declares himself first and foremost a storyteller, a dramatist and mythmaker who deliberately refashions historical facts in pursuit of higher truths. The undeniable centerpiece of this artistic manifesto is Stone's fascinating commentary on the making and meanings of JFK, the film that reopened a case that many thought finally closed.

A provocative and timely reexamination of a great American artist, Oliver Stone's USA will also reignite public debate over the relationship between history and art as well as the artist's responsibility to his audience.

Customer Reviews:

Great Work Of Debate And Intellectual Issues........2001-07-01

Oliver Stone is one of the most brilliant and provocative filmmakers working today and in this book we get a great taste of the debate over his work from both sides of the field. The book as a whole is very readable and never boring. Stone fans (like myself) and Stone bashers alike will get a good kick out of this book. The essay and responses to critics that Stone writes are fascinating, informative and speak to the free intellectual spirit and as in his great movies, Stone comes out as a man who really is aware of how the world works. I admire his writing here because it is an encouragement to people to educate themselves and read and do their own research and open their eyes. This book can be provocative intellectually and generally. The critics of Stone here also make some points, but not strong enough in my opinion, Stephen Ambrose comes off as a false historian who does not look at historical events from more than one angle or opinion. Stone easily dismisses his weak attacks. There is also a great deal of good dissection of the Stone films mentioned here which range from "Salvador" to "Nixon." Rock enthusiasts will like the article dealing with Stone's film on Jim Morrison, "The Doors" and Stone's own comments on Morrison and his music. The most provocative articles are those on the two most fiery political films Stone has made, "JFK" and "Nixon." These are provocative pieces because Stone challenges our views of official history and dares us to look behind the veils of the news, historians and some writings. This is not just a book for film buffs or Stone fans and critics, it is a book for people who enjoy good, smart debating and dissections of intellectual arguments. I enjoyed it because it is a breather for people looking for a really smart book. And yes, film buffs should definately read it because it deals greatly with how movies handle fact and fiction and it has important things to say on the role of the cinema in society and art in general. A fascinating, provocative and enjoyable book.

Junk.......2001-04-27

Oliver Stone slandered an innocent man in the film JFK. The greatest film critic of all, Pauline Kael, said Stone was a lousy screenwriter, and she's right. And Oliver Stone's response at the end of the book to Gerald Posner's book on the JFK assassination CASE CLOSED (that proves convincingly that Oswald was a lone gunman) is just absurd!! Every sin Stone says Posner committed--and in fact did not commit in most cases--Stone committed a million times more in JFK! I've rarely seen greater hypocrisy than I saw in Stone's Posner piece. If you want to read about an irrational, paranoid, egomaniac, go ahead and read this silly book.

"Lunch Is For Wimps!".......2001-03-04

Since "Salvador" in 1985, Oliver Stone has kept humorless historians, political journalists and right wing reactionaries flinching.

"Platoon" (1986) was the first motion picture that actually depicted the lives of the "grunts" fighting in Vietnam, completely oliberating the absolute stupidity of John Wayne's jingositic film of "The Green Berets" in 1968.

"Born On The Fourth of July" portrayed the pain and suffering of many Vietnam vets returning home to a society that seemed callous and indifferent.

In 1991, Stone became the first commercial filmmaker with any clout to take on the morass of details surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

Can a man who makes movies based on historical events actually be classified as an historian?

That seems to be the fundamental question surrounding "Oliver Stone's USA," a fabulous new book, edited by Brent Toplin.

The first section of the book is devoted to a series of essays, both pro and con Stone, from writers like David Halberstam and Steven Ambrose (who writes a particularly nasty piece on "Nixon").

The book's second section gives Stone a chance to respond to the critics and that he does eloquently (noting at one point that neither Stephen Ambrose nor John Wayne ever served a minute in combat).

The volume of attacks on Stone for "JFK" from political pundits like George Will, Alexander Cockburn, Tom Wicker et al may have been prompted by the knowledge that Stone reaches more people with one showing of his films that they do writing a lifetime of columns.

Book Description

Features an interview with Oliver Stone followed by 15 essays that examine his films, from his inauspicious directorial debut with Seizure (1974) through Nixon (1995).

Customer Reviews:

Don Kunz's Well Written Book.......2006-01-30

As a previous student of Professor Don Kunz, and simply a big fan of acclaimed films and filmmakers, I can say that this book is an accurate portrayal of the artistic ability of Oliver Stone.

Professor Kunz, from his teachings in my Absurdist Humor course, is extremely knowledgable of film and shows his understanding of the topics quite well. He shows skill in analyzing films beyond their face value, and does the same for the works of Oliver Stone.

If you look to learn about Oliver Stone beyond simple biographical information, this book is a good pickup.

Oliver Stone- Genius........1999-10-11

Oliver Stone is my favorite filmmaker, the man's a genius! All his films are powerful works that leave you impacted and thinking. "JFK" is a masterpiece of modern cinema, a study of power. "Natural Born Killers" is also a great, great film that studies today's culture. Of all the filmmakers, Oliver Stone remains the best, the smartest, most creative and important filmmaker of our time.

Average customer rating:

Okay but Redundant
A great insight into his movies

Oliver Stone (Directors Close Up)
Chris Salewicz
Manufacturer: Orion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0752818201

Book Description

Oliver stone is one of the most charismatic, unpredictable and talented writer/directors to emerge in the last twenty years. Applauded for Platoon and derided for Natural Born Killers his individual and uncompromising style sets him apart. He has had great critical acclaim and received a cabinet of Oscars for such films as Platoon, Wall Street and Born On The 4th of July. Equally he has attracted the opprobrium of the press and his piers with films such as Natural Born Killers and The Hand. Whatever the reaction to movies few would argue that he is one of the most talented and individual filmmakers to have emerged in the last twenty years. His directing style is blunt and perfectionist, but his style on screen is very much tailored to the subject matter and the script. Unlike Ridley Scott for example it is difficult to characterise the look of a Stone movie. So what is it that makes Stone tick? What makes him take on a movie? How does Stone approach the script and decide he what he wants up there on the screen?

Chris Salewicz spent two months talking with Oliver Stone getting the inside stories of the making of his movies.

Customer Reviews:

Okay but Redundant.......2002-08-02

If you haven't read the Riordan biography of Mr. Stone yet, this book basically covers all the ground that's covered in that. Only get this book if you are a devoted disciple of Mr. Stone (like me) and want to get it for the sake of having a complete collection on the filmmaker (or if you happen to value Daily Variety's film reviews). Otherwise, save your money.

A great insight into his movies.......1999-02-26

Oliver Stone is truly one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers of our time. That's why I look forward to reading this book.

Average customer rating:

Oliver Stone (Il Castoro cinema)
Alberto Morsiani
Manufacturer: Editrice Il Castoro
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 8880330918

Oliver Stone's America: "Dreaming the Myth Outward" (Film Studies)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book
Combines academic and non-academic perspectives

Oliver Stone's America: "Dreaming the Myth Outward" (Film Studies)
Susan MacKey-Kallis
Manufacturer: Westview Pr (Short Disc)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0813326621

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2005-07-26

This well written, well thought out book uses the archetypes of mythology (Campbell, Jung, etc) and uses them to help us understand the importance of myths as they apply to the modern world. Stone's films are some of the best examples of modern mythology and have a heightened sense of realism. This approach contributes to a new and maybe better understanding of his movies. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates mythology or the films of Oliver Stone. I think he is one of our finest modern-day storytellers.

Combines academic and non-academic perspectives.......1997-12-13

Ms. Mackey-Kallis apparently comes from an academic perspective, as she weaves a variety of interdisciplinary theories (mass communication theory, film studies, etc.) while still drawing from imagery that is understandable to non-academics. If you want to understand the theory behind the creativity of Oliver Stone, you'll want to read this book.

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