Contemporary U.S. Cinema

Contemporary U.S. Cinema

Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Contemporary US Cinema examines the significant events and trends of the past thirty years of American cinema and combines this with a detailed exploration of its most important figures and individual works. Contemporary U.S. Cinema examines important developments in American film-making over the past three decades, citing them as instances both of change and of continuity within the practices and processes of earlier phases of classic Hollywood cinema. The book divides into nine comprehensive and provocative chapters exploring, for example, directors, genres, and new developments in film making, Michael Allen offers a survey of significant events and trends of the past thirty years of American cinema and combines this with a detailed exploration of its most important figures and individual works. Michael Allen is at the University of London

From the Back Cover

Contemporary U.S. Cinema is a forceful exploration of the tumultuous changes that have dominated the shifting landscape of American film-making over the past three decades. From the explosive release of Easy Rider to the excesses of Heaven's Gate and the comic book figures of Spider-Man, its aim is to examine the economic, social and cultural contexts of mainstream and independent American films.

The book divides into nine provocative chapters with material on:

the most significant individual film-makers, such as Scorsese, Coppola and Lucas, as well as independent film-makers like Jarmusch and Anders

the careers of leading actors of the last thirty years, such as Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford and Julia Roberts, whilst exploring the powerful position of the film star in the modern American film-making process

the economics of Contemporary U.S. Cinema with particular reference to the tortuous journey from production, distribution and exhibition of Waterworld and Titanic

the artistic influence of foreign film-makers, such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, and explores Hollywood's increasing dominance and reliance on the global market

genres, sequels and the recent developments in computer-based technologies, using examples from The Godfather I - III, The Matrix, the Star Wars Saga and remakes from Shaft to Ocean's Eleven

The book is illustrated with stills throughout and includes a bibliography and annotated further reading list.

Michael Allen is Lecturer in Film and Television, Birkbeck College, University of London.

Series Editor - Alexander Ballinger, McLean Film & Media Ltd.

Contemporary U.S. Cinema

Contemporary U.S. Cinema,Michael Allen,Longman,0582437768,Cinema/Film: Book,Film & Video - General,Motion pictures,Performing Arts,Pop Arts / Pop Culture,United States,Performing Arts / General

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