In Bambi vs. Godzilla, David Mamet, the award-winning playwright and screenwriter, gives us an exhilaratingly subversive inside look at Holl...
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Dec 16, 2009
John L
rated it: 
A good line:
Q. Is it possible to engross the audience when the end of the quest is already known?
Yes. Mark Twain wrote of U.S. Grant's personal memoirs that they were so well written as to make one wonder who was going to win the Civil War.
The book itself was a tough read. He seems to try to make his points in such an obtuse manner that it's difficult to understand his point.
He asks the question, what does a producer do. But never fully answers it.
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Q. Is it possible to engross the audience when the end of the quest is already known?
Yes. Mark Twain wrote of U.S. Grant's personal memoirs that they were so well written as to make one wonder who was going to win the Civil War.
The book itself was a tough read. He seems to try to make his points in such an obtuse manner that it's difficult to understand his point.
He asks the question, what does a producer do. But never fully answers it.
More...
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Jun 27, 2008
Morgan
rated it:
Mamet has this annoying habit of characterizing those who disagree with his views as either neurotic or delusional, and occasionally comes off as a bit of a prig. A lot of his jokes fall flat. He completely misunderstands "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol". But when he's on, he's on - and America's foremost playwright has piercing observations on the art and business of film. His views on storytelling and film genre are particularly illuminating, and Mamet is at
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Aug 11, 2007
Kate
rated it: 
What was I thinking. Just because I like one of his screenplays (Wag the Dog) and two of his films (The Spanish Prisoner, The Winslow Boy) I figured I'd enjoy this book. NWJ. Not only is it written in a semi-stream of consciousness style, he doesn't name names and specify the films of which he's critical. ONE saving grace: the appendix in the back is an exhaustive, alphabetical listing of every single film he references in the book. So that was a boon to my Netflix. Proceed with caution.
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Jun 12, 2011
Max
rated it:
David Mamet has never been one to mask his contempt for the film business and those who run it (see his brilliantly funny filmmaking satire STATE AND MAIN). So it stands to reason that someone with such a keen intellect, acerbic wit and very distinct writing style would continue to bite the hand that feeds him. It's the films that he loves - not the business of getting them made.
And having been a terrific filmmaker for over twenty years now (along with being one of the more celebrated, if n More...
And having been a terrific filmmaker for over twenty years now (along with being one of the more celebrated, if n More...
Aug 28, 2008
Stark
rated it: 
Fucking perfect. I am never, ever gonna even try and explain anything about the show business, or screenwriting, or Jews, ever again. I can never do it as well as Mamet has here. If you are interested in the above-listed things...this is your book.
Favorite quote: "The audience will not suffer, wonder, discover or rejoice to any extent greater than to which the writer has been subjected."
Oh.
Favorite quote: "The audience will not suffer, wonder, discover or rejoice to any extent greater than to which the writer has been subjected."
Oh.
Jul 01, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
The heart of the matter. The man behind the curtain. The process of filmmaking condensed down to its very basic elements with a wry sense of humor written just for the most masochistic job in the industry: the screenwriter. If you like your coffee black, your toast dry and your yogurt plain, this is for you. Expect mysteries to be solved and dreams to dissolve. In a good way.
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Jun 03, 2011
Terry
rated it:
Although too cryptic for my liking thoughout, there are some very enjoyable parts in this book. I particularly enjoyed the section on "principles" which reminded me of the "golden rules of film" that I've contributed to in the past.*
I liked his list of films which pass themselves off as expose or heartfelt when in reality the maker and the viewer seem to enjoy the whole thing - e.g. Canadian Love Story or The Green Mile. Likewise his disregard for marketers and th More...
I liked his list of films which pass themselves off as expose or heartfelt when in reality the maker and the viewer seem to enjoy the whole thing - e.g. Canadian Love Story or The Green Mile. Likewise his disregard for marketers and th More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Carlo
rated it: 
He certainly isn't a fan of producers. As a screenwriter, I found his insight into storytelling in screenwriting to be enlightening and inspiring. His writing, though, was a little extravagant and bombastic, as well as, at times, inaccessible, but I was with him in what he had to say on the subject of film and the entertainment industry. It was engaging.
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May 28, 2007
Aaron
rated it:
Mamet writing about the "nature" of Hollywood. Scathing, hilarious, and honest. Most of these were published elsewhere and are available via google search, but a centralized collection is worth the investment.
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Dec 16, 2009
David
rated it:
Mamet is one of my favorite screenwriters. His style is terse and no-nonsense, and he brings his wit and years of acquired wisdom to a tell-all commentary on the movie industry. Good summer reading for movie buffs.
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Aug 29, 2011
Darryl
rated it:
This was a fun book to read. I picked it up on a whim, because the title, Bambi vs. Godzilla, is that of a short cartoon I know of, and I've been told by a friend that this guy is a great writer. It was fun to learn some interesting stuff about Hollywood. It reads much better than an exposition, though. He interjects his views--on movies and much else--throughout.
The best thing about it to me is that I have stopped watching movies from a critic's perspective and gone back to just enjoy More...
The best thing about it to me is that I have stopped watching movies from a critic's perspective and gone back to just enjoy More...
Apr 12, 2010
E.
rated it:
This book rocks! The title, the cover, totally put me off -- I didn't know what it was about, didn't want to know. Yeah, it was Mamet, but so what?
If a friend hadn't given me this book, I never ever would've picked it up. But here it is a succinct, cogent, erudite ramblinb book-long rant about the state of the movie business that's so dead-on it's scary.
Read this book - you'll never have to go to film school. Assimilate this book and you won't need set experience -- More...
If a friend hadn't given me this book, I never ever would've picked it up. But here it is a succinct, cogent, erudite ramblinb book-long rant about the state of the movie business that's so dead-on it's scary.
Read this book - you'll never have to go to film school. Assimilate this book and you won't need set experience -- More...
Nov 30, 2009
William
rated it:
This is being reprinted from my website Secure Immaturity. Please visit and comment:
“For critics are a plague . . . And what of the ‘democratization of criticism,’ e.g., online critics? Well, this approaches pure gossip, and, as such, it is of necessity messier and more truthful than its licensed brother {print critics}.”
–David Mamet
Ouch. . .no pressure I guess. If any of you know me you know that I am kind of in art-love with David Mamet. He is my favorite pl More...
“For critics are a plague . . . And what of the ‘democratization of criticism,’ e.g., online critics? Well, this approaches pure gossip, and, as such, it is of necessity messier and more truthful than its licensed brother {print critics}.”
–David Mamet
Ouch. . .no pressure I guess. If any of you know me you know that I am kind of in art-love with David Mamet. He is my favorite pl More...
Feb 26, 2008
Julia
rated it:
A collection of Mamet essays on the film trade -- some good, some great, some tossed off at the urging of his publisher to make this collection look more substantial than it is. The original essay Bambi vs. Godzilla appeared in Harper's several years before this book was published. It's a fabulous polemic on art vs. commerce. There's nothing new in his argument, but it's said so forcefully and with such verve that you can't help but love the old, righteous curmudgeon. Otherwise, there's not much
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Mar 09, 2007
Jason
rated it:
I greatly enjoy reading books about the inner workings of Hollywood, not specifically from the actor/producer standpoint, but from the less hot-shot and A list people like writers, cameramen, or even just critics. William Goldman's "Who Killed Hollywood" is one of my favorite books and one I always refer to when thinking about movies. And for this reason I picked up Bambi vs. Godzilla. While I have seen some of David Mamet's movies before, this is my fist experience with his writing
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May 10, 2011
Joslyn
rated it:
While I admire his intellect (and extensive vocabulary -- if only I could re-take the SATs now), something about this book was soul crushing. Still, I was engaged enough to take down a note or two. If you persevere through some of the soap box stuff there are wonderful gems on the craft of writing drama, structure, dialog and more. Worth the pain.
Jun 03, 2009
James
rated it:
Opinionated and snarky look at the system - refreshing after reading so many mindless how-to-get-into-hollywood books. Haven't seen enough of Mamet's work to form an opinion of him as a director, but loved what he had to say about egos, screenwriters, hierarchies. "How Scripts Got So Bad" has to be my favorite piece in this.
May 03, 2010
Noah
rated it: 
Like most of Mamet's work, this has flashes of absolute brilliance. There are sentences so perfect you sit there and savor them over and over. Then there's a lot of pretentious garbage. I think he lost me for good when he used the words "desideratum" and "divertimento" in the same sentence.
Feb 07, 2012
Mark
rated it:
David Mamet's look inside the current state of Hollywood for studio and independent films is wickedly entertaining. Not since William Goldman's Adventures In the Screen Trade has a screenwriter (and director) provided such a fun and insightful look into a wild business.
May 13, 2010
Missjgray
rated it:
Every few pages something else would blow my mind. Mamet has a very clear (and, I think, correct) understanding of what makes a story work and what keeps it interesting. There's about 700 movies I want to watch now -- he describes lots of examples. And I want to write now, too. Most intersting read in quite a while.
Apr 04, 2009
J
rated it:
well, you know my feeligns about books of essays that lead you by the nose through an argument
i fucking love tem
this one is about how the movie business sucks and aside from finding mamet's kneejerk defense of israel kind of annoying in an early essay this book was fucking delicious flavors of goodness
yeah mamet
i fucking love tem
this one is about how the movie business sucks and aside from finding mamet's kneejerk defense of israel kind of annoying in an early essay this book was fucking delicious flavors of goodness
yeah mamet
Feb 08, 2009
Shawn
rated it:
David Mamet's thoughts on Hollywood. Unfocused at times, but always forceful, Mamet extrapolates on whatever catches his attention and, among other things, gives you some interesting theories on why modern movies are so bad, who the least respected people in the Hollywood food chain are and why, etc. etc. I don't know that I agree with everything he says (I don't think that all newspaper movie reviewers are on the take, that the Jews are widely despised by journalists and that we need a return
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Mar 09, 2011
Miia
rated it:
A collection of essays in which David Mamet dissects what is wrong with the movie business and shares his very subjective views on his favourite and least favourite movies and actors. An insightful, often very funny, and brutally honest insider's look at Hollywood.
Jan 11, 2011
Loved it. Loved moreso that I purchased it at a signing where I got to reconnect with David. He gave me my first shot in show biz: editing intern on 'Spanish Prisoner.'
Mar 27, 2008
David
rated it:
I enjoy David Mamet's movies (and plays) very much, so was slightly disappointed with this book. He certainly has a funny, casual, easily readable style, and he knows his subject, having worked in Hollywood for 30 years or so. But the book is broken into many many short chapters, many of which are just 3 or 4 pages long, so it was difficult for me to really settle in. He'd bring up a topic, relte a pithy anecdote, then move along. Time after time I found myself wishing that he'd slow down, give
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May 20, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
Mamet kinda comes across as an asshole but a lot of what he says about the movie industry, and to a lesser extent society in general, iis on target.
Mar 13, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
An interesting portrayal of the entertainment industry. But, David Mamet bites the hand that feeds him and it is more than a little disgusting.
Jun 11, 2009
Uriha
rated it:
i had bought this book and David Mamet newest film "Red Belt" after reading and watching both i was inspired more.
Apr 05, 2011
Shotgunsnack
rated it:
Very interesting look at the Hollywood film industry. Mamet's writing makes it a fun read.
Dec 09, 2008
Tim
rated it:
disappointing odds and ends. I know he's great, but he also can be a real bloviator.
