Not to be Missed
Fifty-four Favorites from a Lifetime of Film
Published on 3. June 2014
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-1-58648-396-8 (ISBN)
Description
The images and memories that matter most are those that are unshakeable, unforgettable. Kenneth Turan's fifty-four favourite films embrace a century of the world's most satisfying romances and funniest comedies, the most heart-stopping dramas and chilling thrillers.Turan discovered film as a child left undisturbed to watch Million Dollar Movie on WOR-TV Channel 9 in New York, a daily showcase for older Hollywood features. It was then that he developed a love of cinema that never left him and honed his eye for the most acute details and the grandest of scenes. Not to be Missed blends cultural criticism, historical anecdote, and inside-Hollywood controversy. Turan's selection of favourites ranges across all genres. From All About Eve to Seven Samurai to Sherlock Jr. , these are all timeless films,classic and contemporary, familiar and obscure, with big budgets and small,each underscoring the truth of director Ingmar Bergman's observation that no form of art goes beyond ordinary consciousness as film does, straight to our emotions, deep into the twilight room of the soul."
Reviews / Votes
"We would be hard pressed to disagree with Turan's premise about what makes for a favorite movie, or to write more eloquently about the things we love.--San Francisco Chronicle "Kenneth Turan...presents an enticing blend of Hollywood controversies, historical context, and crisp analysis in Not to be Missed...Cinephiles will find plenty to devour and to debate."--Boston Globe "[Turan] offers up tidbits of Hollywood history and behind-the-scenes drama, as well as his critical analysis of some of the world's greatest movies -- some familiar, some obscure."--NPR's Morning Edition "The book's real value... may lie in the oddities that Turan has unearthed over a lifetime of viewing: connections between films and cultures that showcase influences and enhance reputations."--Washington Post "A collection full of surprises and Turan's great insight, Not to Be Missed is a treasure chest--essential reading for anyone who loves movies."--Susan Orlean, author of Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend and The Orchid Thief "What makes this book stand out is how each film is put into context of the time period it was made and Turan's reasons why each one sticks out as memorable and deserving of watching more than once. This collection is a worthwhile companion to similar books of "the best in film," e.g., Roger Ebert's The Great Movies and Gail Kinn and Jim Piazza's The Greatest Movies Ever. Recommended for the casual movie fan as well as the serious film student."--Library Journal "A veteran critic offers a decade-by-decade list of the films that have been like 'friends who've enriched my life.' Film lovers will eagerly swoop in to see if their favorites are present, and there are certainly some surprises. [Not to Be Missed] will surely ignite debate, disdain and delight."-- Kirkus "[Turan's] comments about the movies are always insightful...his writing is fluid and accessible. Richly deserving of shelf space alongside Ebert's The Great Movies (2002), Pauline Kael's For Keeps (1994), and Turan's own Never Coming to a Theater Near You (2004)."--Booklist "Turan's thoughtful list will inspire readers to rent some of his all-time favorites, and they can have the utmost confidence in Turan's wise and enthusiastic recommendations." --Shelf AwarenessMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 162 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-58648-396-8 (9781586483968)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2014
PublicAffairs
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Kenneth Turan is the film critic for the Los Angeles Times and NPR's Morning Edition, as well as the director of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. He has been a staff writer for the Washington Post and TV Guide, and served as the Times' book review editor. A graduate of Swarthmore College and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, he is the co-author of Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke. Turan teaches film reviewing and non-fiction writing at USC and is on the board of directors of the National Yiddish Book centre. His most recent books include Free for All: Joe Papp, The Public, and the Greatest theatre Story Ever Told and Never Coming To A theatre Near You. Turan lives in Los Angeles, CA. Follow him on Twitter @KennethTuran.