Nosferatu

Rating:
Summary: Compelling yet fictional look at a Silent Cinema Giant
Review: There are a variety of circumstances that make this book a paradox. First, the subject matter is fascinating: Silent movie director FW Murnau's life and career. Unfortunately, because the family is ashamed of its gay ancestor, a lot of material was withheld from the author, who has to fictionalize this sort-of biography. Shifts from third- to first-person narrative would be less jarring if there was not a sudden change in quality (first person sounding much more authentic). Another problem is that the author takes a glib view of film history itself, writing this book to satisfy his childhood obsession with the horror movie Nosferatu by writing about its creator. But to only mention three of his movies, leaving off his most stunning achievements--Faust and Sunrise--is astounding. But, despite all this, Shepard paints an interesting picture of Murnau as an obsessed loner whose only joy was the lost boyfriend, Hans, and the subsequent obsession with his death (in WWI trenches) and memory. As a film history buff, it's hard not to feel the clang of what's missing here. As a look at the mournful obsession for youth and dream lost, though, it sort of work, marred again by the narrative alternation.

Rating:
Summary: A perfect novel!
Review: With stunning insight, Shepard creates a fictional history of the great filmmaker locating the roots of his mature genius in the forbidden passions of adolescence and young adulthood. One of the most compelling windows into artistic obsession and its erotic impetus I have ever seen. The descriptions of the creative mind at work in the making of Nosferatu the film are an artistic tour de force. His evocation of the transports of youthful love are among the most beautiful ever written! Check out the love letters!

Rating:
Summary: I'd Rather Lick a Frozen Flagpole
Review: Wow. This guy has a talent for cheese, saccharine, and making genuinely good subjects feel bloated with the author's own self-importance. Talk about the writer inserting his ego to detrimental effect! He packs his sentences with such a smug writerly sensibility that it's difficult to get into the story at all. Like, gag me with a spoon!

That being said, where's the movie version? Didn't I see Willem Dafoe someplace recently...? That's gotta sting! (I mean, golly, don't studios usually play the 'me too' game? Maybe they could hook the author up! Dunh dunh dunh... 'NOSFERATU,' starring, as Murnau, RICK MORANIS! And, as Shreck, in his biggest role since Diff'rent Strokes, it's KAREEM ABDUL JABBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!)