M Press

I first saw this book at a horror film convention and wept that I just couldn't swing the price. Happily I have a much better chance to examine it now and testify to what a wonderful overview it provides to the work of one of Americas most important and overlooked directors. At first glance it appears to be a simple coffee table book but a closer examination reveals a wealth of seriously in depth interviews with Landis' casts, crew members and contemporaries. Virtually everything you'd want to know about his career is included here along with a wealth of fabulous pictures and poster art. 

Introductory appreciations of Landis by Sam Raimi, Guillermo del Toro and Aaron Magruder (creator of The Boondocks) are followed by a series of Landis' own writings including appreciations of inspirations like Walt Disney, Laurel and Hardy, and cameraman Gabriel Figueroa, thoughts on comedy and John Carpenter's remake of The Thing. 

Next up are a startling number of interviews with and or appreciations by the likes of David Cronenberg, Frank Oz, Costa Gavras, B.B. King, Dan Aykroyd, Elmer Bernstein, Rick Baker, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Frayling, Harold Ramis, and even a treat like Landis himself interviewing the legendary director Jack Arnold. This isn't just the first book on Landis its an essential one for anybody who wants to understand eighties cinema. There's no doubt Landis has produced his share of clunkers. But he also created amazing work like The Burbs, An American Werewolf in London, Kentucky Fried Movie, Animal House, and The Blues Brothers. And those are just my favorites even his silliest stuff is still pretty fun.

A long time supporter of  fantastic film Landis has not only made some great films in those genres but lent his talents to other burgeoning filmmakers  and been a great friend and supporter to his own early boosters like the late great Forest J. Ackerman. It's good to see his work and his person celebrated while he's still around to enjoy it.

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