Product Description

Terry Gilliam achieved fame as the iconoclastic animator and founder-member of the Monty Python team, and collaborated on the Monty Python film projects before setting off on his own cinema career. He discusses his work in this book, which includes examples of his drawings and storyboards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51599 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Starting his career as a cartoonist and animator, notably as a member of the classic Monty Python team, Terry Gilliam has gone on to create a series of powerful, idiosyncratic films that are unlike anything else in contemporary cinema. Ambitious, symbolic and visually stunning, the director's work is the result of an uncompromising personal vision that has often brought him into conflict with producers and studios. The story of this impressive career is told by Gilliam himself in this excellent book.

Gilliam on Gilliam is part of Faber and Faber's directors series, other notable reads including works on Hitchcock and Fellini. Each takes the form of a series of interviews, in the present case conducted by Ian Christie, (also responsible for Scorcese on Scorcese), whose incisive questioning frequently brings rewarding responses from his subject, whether dealing with Gilliam's early years ("I certainly didn't want to work my way up!") or seeking details of the processes and inspirations behind his films. One highlight is provided by the conversations surrounding Brazil, commonly considered Gilliam's masterpiece, where the director's frankness in dealing with everything from casting, troublesome shoots and frequent confrontations proves refreshingly honest. Impressive, too, is the discussion of Baron Munchausen, the over-ambitious flop which saw Gilliam briefly derided as "out of control" by Hollywood's money men.

Overall, the ex-Python consistently proves articulate, amusing and inspiring in the face of Christie's enjoyable brand of Spanish Inquisition. His next challenging project should be awaited with interest. --Steve Price

Customer Reviews

Gilliam - an honest, fascinating and brilliant auteur
This is one of the best of Faber and Faber's directors 'on' series, enriched by Gilliam's incredibly entertaining and articulate views on his films. He frequently surprises us with his honesty concerning his previous films and what he views as his past failures. Arguably the most fascinating parts of the books are his discussions of his best films, notably The Time Bandits, Brazil and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This is a incredibly refreshing read, resurrecting the belief in the potential of the filmmaker as auteur, from a man whose works, even if you dislike them, are amongst the greatest visions of the twentieth century.