Either you knew them before you read them or you dont, in which case, you have no idea what anyones talking about. Roger ebert s criticism shows a nearly unequaled grasp of film history and technique, and formidable intellectual range. The brother from another planet 1984 sci fi in harlem and the secret of roan inish 1993 folktale in. The other eight films sayles has made as writerdirector to date may, in fact, be grouped in pairs. Roger ebert and gene siskel discuss hollywood culture, tv and movie violence and quentin tarantinos pulp fiction, the intricacies of the studio system and. Roger ebert talks movingly about losing and refinding his voice ted 2011 the two roger eberts.
I do mind dying, and author of the methusaleh factorsstrategies for a longer life lenny rubenstein, an editor of cineaste for over a decade, has taught at the new school for social research. Referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent filmmaking, john sayles is the writerdirector of 18 movies, including matewan, lone star, eight men out, and passion fish. He has twice been nominated for the academy award for best original screenplay, for passion fish 1992 and lone star 1996. John sayles invaluable for those who have wondered what theyre really saying, and for those pitching projects and screenplays who wonder what theyre really being told. Exploding with secrets, this novel has everything you could want in an intriguing mystery. Sep 01, 2010 when he wrote about it last year on his blog, roger eberts journal, people saw that the legendary movie critic for the chicago suntimes could also knock out some great food writing.
John thomas sayles is an independent film director, screenwriter, novelist and short story writer who frequently plays small roles in his own and other indie films. When he wrote about it last year on his blog, roger eberts journal, people saw that the legendary movie critic for the chicago suntimes could also knock out some great food writing. His film men with guns 1997 was nominated for the golden globe for best foreign language film. He is the 2018 georgia author of the year detective mystery category, a 2018 killer nashville readers choice award nominee, and a finalist for the 2018. John sayles official sites, and other sites with posters, videos, photos and more. Piranha 1979, lady in red 1979 and battle beyond the stars 1980, and made his debut as a writer. Interview roger ebert january 1993 interview roger ebert january 2008 interview roger ebert july 2002 interview roger. Biography roger johns is a former corporate lawyer and retired college professor, and the author of the wallace hartman mysteries from st.
John sayles honeydripper is set at the intersection of two movements that would change american life forever. Roger eberts final list of his top 10 favorite films open. His latest film, silver city received a two thumbs way up. Roger ebert and gene siskel are the two bestknown movie critics in the country, and, now that archie and edith have left us, probably the countrys most celebrated squabblers as well. Now john sayles has written his first short story collection in twentyfive years. Roger eberts movie yearbook 2011 by roger ebert nook. They may have more to do with each other than you might think, although that isnt his point. Smart ass cripple, blogs, books, roger ebert, radio theater. The razzies awards for the worst movies of the year. John sayles is perhaps americas most celebrated independent filmmaker. John sayles writer director editor silver city is john sayles 15th feature film. Roger ebert january 1993 interview roger ebert january 2008 interview roger ebert july 2002. Cannes, francejohn sayles has two movies in release these days, but he takes a credit on only one of them. Its well known in these parts that he was born and raised.
Ebert pieced together a book made from essays and chapters from other books by other people, and he gives an unenlightening introduction to each of them. Scripts for genre movies like roger cormans piranha earned him cash for his own, starting in 1980. Limbo is a 1999 drama film written, produced, edited, and directed by american independent filmmaker john sayles. There are some good pieces in here i especially like the ones by klaus kinski, charlie chaplin, woody allen, and john waters, but its hardly a major work by the respected film historian. Ebert discusses the relation of art and politics and some of the common perspectives which unite filmmakers of different cultures and of diverse artistic and political temperaments. His career began as a novelist and short story writer with the publication in 1975 of pride of the bimbos, followed in 1977 by union dues, a national critics circle and national book award nominee. All 17 titles average out to just under 3 words per movie moniker actually, 2. John sayles has 37 books on goodreads with 7810 ratings. John thomas sayles in schenectady, new york, 28 september 1950. Sep, 2011 he shares his insights into movie stars and directors like john wayne and martin scorsese. He also wrote scripts for roger cormans new world e. W hen i said that i was going to interview john sayles, my friends shouted out their favorite movie titles. Referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent.
John sayles director films as director and scriptwriter. It is only later, thinking about the film, that we appreciate the full reach of its material. John sayles lone star contains so many riches, it humbles ordinary movies. Referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent filmmaking, john sayles is the writerdirector of 18 movies. Shopworn conventions, and outdated archetypes roger ebert on. Government by the treachery and deception of words and host of roger sayles radio ranch.
In yellow earth, sayles spins a parable about native american resistance to corporate. Roger eberts criticism shows a nearly unequaled grasp of film history and technique, and formidable intellectual range. Our marketplace offers a huge selection of movies from sellers worldwide. Things might be easier, john sayles sometimes thinks, if he were just starting out if he had no track record. Filled with the same deep insight, dry wit, and sharp observations that his readers have long cherished, this is more than a memoir it is a singular, warmhearted, inspiring look at life itself. Getting what you wantenjoying what youve got, and more on.
The interviews are introduced with a foreword by roger ebert, commentator and critic for the chicago suntimes. According to roger, john sayles had displayed great promise from the very beginning, with his first two features, return of the secaucus. Hi, im roger sayles, author of from sovereign to serf. His 18 films so far can obscure sayless literary output, fiction whose propulsive prose tackles similar. And if that hasnt changed your mind, think about this. Again, roger ebert is hardly present in the little movie glossary. A novel by john sayles and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A warm welcome to roger eberts 7th annual film festival guests. Roger eberts final list of his top 10 favorite films. Ok, the meeting with the great schenectadyborn director, screenwriter and novelist amounted to little more than a handshake, some gushing from me to him, natch.
In addition to writing more than 100 screenplays, he is the author of four novels and two short. The howling is a 1981 american horror film directed by joe dante and starring dee wallace, patrick macnee, dennis dugan, and robert picardo. Before john sayles was an oscarnominated screenwriter and celebrated independent filmmaker, he was a national book awardnominated writer of fiction. Advertisement based on a wellknown series of books, the movie involves a soontobe divorced mom and her three children who come to live in a creepy old mansion. After gene siskels death in 1999, roger ebert teamed up with ruchard roeper for the television series ebert and roeper and the movies which began airing in 2000. More important, renzi has produced all the films in the john sayles canon with. Globe, the national book award, and the national book critics circle award.
In addition to writing more than 100 screenplays, he is the author of four novels and two short story collections, including pride of the bimbos, union dues, and dillinger in hollywood. Ap photomatt sayles, file matt sayles 3 of 7 file this january, 2011, file photo provided by roger ebert shows the famous film critic wearing a silicone prosthesis over his lower face and. It is the first theatrical film to be released and distributed by screen gems. Feb 12, 2020 referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent filmmaking, john sayles is the writerdirector of 18 movies, including matewan, lone star, eight men out, and passion fish. John sayles walking alone, an interview with leslie felperin, in sight and sound london, september 1996. Based on the novel of the same name by gary brandner, the film follows a television newswoman sent to a remote mountain resort after a near fatal incident with a serial killer, unaware that the residents are werewolves. Signed articles do not necessarily express the position of the. Roger ebert was also an honorary member of the directors guild of america.
Set in the fictional new jersey metropolis of hudson, three intricately interwoven tales involving real estate, robbery, and racial tension comprise a complex study of crime, corruption, and. Roger eberts movie yearbook 2011 by roger ebert nook book. Ebert also has announced many of the guests who will attend the festival they include actordirector mario van peebles, director john sayles and actor jason patric and said some. Apr 07, 2020 referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent filmmaking, john sayles is the writerdirector of 18 movies, including matewan, lone star, eight men out, and passion fish. The brother from another planet is a 1984 lowkey science fiction, written, directed and edited by john sayles, produced by peggy rajski and maggie renzi, starring joe morton, john sayles, maggie renzi, david strathairn, bill cobbs, steve james, daryl edwards, leonard jackson, rosanna carter, tom wright, ren woods, olga merediz, spider webb, minnie gentry, dee dee bridgewater, fisher stevens. The drama features mary elizabeth mastrantonio, david strathairn, vanessa martinez and kris kristofferson. Democratic left is the magazine of the democratic socialists of america. Jun 02, 2011 john sayles books it back to schenectady. A guide to using films, solidarity forever, and the encyclopedia of the american left, and coauthor of detroit. Jun 08, 2011 ok, the meeting with the great schenectadyborn director, screenwriter and novelist amounted to little more than a handshake, some gushing from me to him, natch.
But if i did idolize someone in the movie industry it would most likely be john sayles. Among his classics are matewan, eight men out, and lone star. Hes more concerned with spinning a groundlevel human comedy than searching for pie in. Three books on the syrian conflict, written by leftists, provide original insights into the defining calamity of the 21st century. He was the author of seventeen books, including scorsese by ebert and awake in the dark. John thomas sayles born september 28, 1950 is an american independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. A year later, lone star 1996 arrived in theaters, and was proclaimed by roger as the best work yet by one of our most original and independent filmmakers. He received the carl sandburg literary award of the chicago public library and won the webby awards person of the year in 2010. The new republic sent sayles to detroit in the summer of 1980 to cover the republican national convention that nominated ronald. Sep 04, 2016 roger ebert and gene siskel discuss hollywood culture, tv and movie violence and quentin tarantinos pulp fiction, the intricacies of the studio system and take questions from the audience. The following are suggested books and other resources on topics covered in this issue.
Lone star, an interview with dennis west and joan m. His 18 films so far can obscure sayless literary output, fiction whose propulsive prose tackles similar questions. Government by the treachery and deception of words and host of roger sayles radio ranch born in panama city, florida, to an air force officer father and living in texas, new mexico, alaska and louisiana growing up. And yet they arent thrown before us, to dazzle and impress. Mar 07, 2020 and when his first novel was optioned by hollywood, sayles learned that writing for movies was a goodpaying job. Roger ebert lists the 10 essential characteristics of noir films. Seagal is only a marked for death sequel away, should mr. Dan georgakas has been an editor of cineaste since 1969. Laugh if you must, but imdb will tell you sayles once wrote a film for dolph lundgren. See all books authored by johnroger, including you cant afford the luxury of a negative thought, and wealth 101. The cineaste interviews university of minnesota press. Government by the treachery and deception of words. John sayles before become an acclaimed screenwriter and director on his own, sayles wrote his earliest film scripts for corman 1978s piranha, 1979s the lady in red, and 1980s battle.