Way Hollywood Tells It by Bordwell David

Author:Bordwell, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 2006-09-22T04:00:00+00:00

Not all blockbusters are action movies, and not all action movies become blockbusters. Still, the action picture—as cop drama, fantasy adventure, or science fiction—remains the exemplar of the box-office triumphs of modern Hollywood. We’ve seen that there is much more to contemporary film than this pale and gaunt prototype. No less than other genres, the action picture sinks its roots into a long history of popular culture, so it would be surprising if it didn’t share conventions with its peers and progenitors. Cameron Crowe’s admiration for the achievements of Wilder is echoed by screenwriter Steven DeSouza’s regard for noir classics. Asked about the tendency for action heroes to fire off quips, DeSouza replies, “Go back even further, to a picture like The Big Sleep. Look at the wisecracks he makes throughout that movie. It’s a long-standing American film tradition.” And the urbane, conceited villain versus the troubled hero? “That kind of combination goes back as far as the Bogart pictures. Take a look at The Maltese Falcon and all of the hero’s problems in that. His guilt over his partner’s death, set against the arrogance and confidence of the Sidney Greenstreet character.”154

Once more we confront the fact of belatedness. But this belatedness hasn’t yielded a paralyzing self-consciousness, a collapse of narrative values, or a rejection of studio-era canons. DeSouza, like many of his peers, sees himself as continuing a worthy enterprise. The diversity and occasional power of modern Hollywood movies show that hacks, artisans, and gifted creators are maintaining a vibrant storytelling tradition very likely to outlive us all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.