Rating: 
Summary: Not bad at best.
Review: An enjoyable read, but not a huge amount of information. I gave my copy away. Somewhere there is a video that I've heard is great but is out of print.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Treasure!
Review: An invaluable guide to working in film. The right mixture of imparting knowledge, and wisdom in an enteraining way. I literally could not put this book down until I had finished it.
Rating: 
Summary: A no-nonsense approach to film acting; quick and thoughtful
Review: Caine writes a lot like he acts: he just gets going, with no fuss. Some of his acting notions are simplistic -- he notes how the early actors were orating like theater actors (which is true), but he doesn't note that they were acting in silent film, where grand gestures and flamboyance was necessary (unless possibly dealing with extreme close-ups). The nice thing about his book, however, is that it is specifically related to film acting; he knows the difference between stage and screen, and this very practical book could be very useful for those young actors who don't realize the extreme difference between the two mediums (he at one point criticizes the theater actors who can't come to accept the rules of the movies). The book details Caine's own thoughts, which are mostly sensible approaches to the art -- you get a sense of him, how his view is that the camera already loves you, so don't bother trying to woo it with shameful mugging.
He touches on a lot of rather simplistic notions, but they're nevertheless important, and he makes you understand the importance of nuance: it's necessary to understand the logic of a line rather than the line itself; how to indicate through your face when another actor reads a line and they're only half-way through a sentence that you know what you're going to say next, but have to wait for them to finish; the millions of possibilities on how to react in terms of inflection when offered something as simple as tea. He talks about some of his own quirks, not wanting to put his character shoes on until just before shooting, but it's never about him more than it's about acting. He does manage to be charming in an underhanded way -- he slips in a tribute to the beauty of Julie Christie, for instance. (He also takes a few seconds to note Orson Welles' genius, the bullying of Otto Preminger, and how Montgomery Clift's jealousy as an actor is unhealthy.) He spends time with a lot of technical tricks that make a lot of sense -- simply reading lines and walking during a rehearsal, so that you won't forget your lines when you're shooting (because movement will be tied to the words). A fine little book.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for actors tired of textbook retoric
Review: Caine's book is by far the most practical book on acting I've read, and I've read a few. Some are very beautifuly written, poetic and psychological, but for someone who really wants to learn something about acting for film, I would recommend this book first. It is at times bleakly honest but highly readable. If you've done any acting, you'll find yourself nodding frequently.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for actors tired of textbook retoric
Review: Caine's book is by far the most practical book on acting I've read, and I've read a few. Some are very beautifuly written, poetic and psychological, but for someone who really wants to learn something about acting for film, I would recommend this book first. It is at times bleakly honest but highly readable. If you've done any acting, you'll find yourself nodding frequently.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining yet informative
Review: I'm not really a fan of Caine, but something about the cover caught my attention. After reading this book, I have a great deal of respect for Caine. This is an actor who was from a poor background, but did not allow the situation to deter his love for acting and instead use it to empower himself and of course, alittle bit of luck now and then doesn't hurt. Caine is really skillful at providing useful information in an entertaining way. A educationally fun read for actors or just about anyone who has a love for film.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining yet informative
Review: I'm not really a fan of Caine, but something about the cover caught my attention. After reading this book, I have a great deal of respect for Caine. This is an actor who was from a poor background, but did not allow the situation to deter his love for acting and instead use it to empower himself and of course, alittle bit of luck now and then doesn't hurt. Caine is really skillful at providing useful information in an entertaining way. A educationally fun read for actors or just about anyone who has a love for film.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable for ANYONE interested in film
Review: If you like movies, this book is a great read. If you're interested in acting in movies, it's an essential read. If you're interested in moviemaking (behind the camera), it's still an essential read: buy extra copies to pass around on the set, especially if you're a struggling filmmaker and you have a cast of friends who've never acted before.As a teacher, Caine is as straightforward as he is as an actor. You watch his performances and you're seeing an actor who understands that less is more. You read this book and you're listening to an instructor who understands the same thing. Every anecdote he tells about films he's been in and stars he's worked with is not just namedropping, it's ALWAYS relevant to whatever helpful point he's making about the craft of film acting. And to him it is very much a craft, not an art. The art takes care of itself; it happens mysteriously, but it can only happen if you nail the craft first. No arty-flighty book about acting theory or the Method, this is a working-class, meat-and-potatoes manual that anyone can relate to, much like its author.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable for ANYONE interested in film
Review: If you like movies, this book is a great read. If you're interested in acting in movies, it's an essential read. If you're interested in moviemaking (behind the camera), it's still an essential read: buy extra copies to pass around on the set, especially if you're a struggling filmmaker and you have a cast of friends who've never acted before. As a teacher, Caine is as straightforward as he is as an actor. You watch his performances and you're seeing an actor who understands that less is more. You read this book and you're listening to an instructor who understands the same thing. Every anecdote he tells about films he's been in and stars he's worked with is not just namedropping, it's ALWAYS relevant to whatever helpful point he's making about the craft of film acting. And to him it is very much a craft, not an art. The art takes care of itself; it happens mysteriously, but it can only happen if you nail the craft first. No arty-flighty book about acting theory or the Method, this is a working-class, meat-and-potatoes manual that anyone can relate to, much like its author.
Rating:
Summary: useful advice, quick read, essential for all film lovers
Review: If you need sound advice, this is the place to go.
Caine illustrates his principle with amusing anecdotes.
Even if you're not interested in film acting, this is a delightful read filled with interesting tidbits about star
like Stallone. My only gripe is I wish it were twice as long.
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