If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor (2001)
|
|
If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor (2001) |
|
Written
by Bruce Campbell |
| Review by Alex Mestas 3/29/2003 |
| More info: Bruce Campbell |
It's hard for me to be objective about If Chins Could Kill. Most everybody I know loves Bruce Campbell, even in the crappy movie roles that he often takes. He's one of those actors that some fervently adore and others have never heard of. He's been everything from horror movie god to character actor to a director and producer. Like the other book I just reviewed, If Chins Could Kill is part biography, part how-to in the movie business. Bruce didn't use a ghostwriter or one of those lame co-authors, yet he proves to be a talented storyteller, relaying his tales in a familiar comfortable way. It's the paper equivalent of sitting down to have a beer with Mr. Campbell. As Bruce mentions in the flap, the pictures aren't clumped together in the middle like the rest of those actor books. Each page has some kind of picture or humorous diagram - it's amazing how a small thing like this can make you enjoy the book even more. It's even better because Bruce doesn't mind putting in yearbook photos and cheesy head-shots. His self-deprecation even extends into discussions of his film roles and finances. In 'Anatomy of a Paycheck' Bruce does a breakdown of a check he received for one of his "big" movie roles. It's a pretty humbling look at the life of a famous star. Of course, it's not bad money, but it's not that great either.
I read this book in one afternoon. It's short and to the point and everything Campbell writes about is interesting - there's not much rumination on the art of acting here. For you obsessed fans, the sections on the Evil Dead movies (which comprises a majority of the book) are definitely entertaining. The backwoods of the south definitely provide a colorful backdrop upon which to film a movie. Note: the book is now in paperback which includes another chapter on the book tour. I haven't picked this up, but it wouldn't hurt you to. Campbell isn't famous, but he has many more loyal fans than most of those so called "famous" actors. And isn't that more important? Book Grade: A+
Copyright 2003 Lights Out Films© |
