I don't normally review books that I wouldn't give one star, but there is a purpose in not recommended this book and that is the whys I hated it.
This book was so unbalanced a star bio of Beatty (whose film REDS is one of my favorites) that it's as if a personal vendetta got the backing of a publisher. (Shame! Shame!) One half step above the trashing typical of a Darwin Porter book, Biskind's entire effort is - cringe worthy. I kept listening in hopes that I would finally come to some redemption. Unbelievable to me is that so many hateful people would be willing to be quoted and so few loving. My guess is that the loving wouldn't speak to the author out of their respect for Beatty, that is if the author tried to talk to them. Attacked so, its no wonder Beatty and many other stars are hell bent on guarding their private lives and personally refuse to cooperate with a memoirist or biographer, even refuse to defend themselves or comment. Pretty much deemed a failure by the author, I come to the defense of Beatty in that if he is a failure, he is a failure who kept on trying, and how many of us would love to fail as well as he has! Funny how so very many people undoubtedly heard of the difficulties of working with him but kept signing on. OK, I know everyone is desperate to make a living, but still. Beatty has managed to hire a great number of talent people in his years as a film maker.
Biskind also suppose that it's Beatty's reputation as a sex symbol and seducer that makes him famous. He implies the star only married and had children after becoming a washed up old man. In a ridiculous attempt to compare Beatty's career accomplishments, he brings up Clint Eastwood! Excuse me but are we comparing road warrior movies that include a pet chimp with the Russian Revolution?!
And so this book reminds me that a friend always sees the best in you and an enemy always sees the worst. As a writer involved in memoir or biography, aim for the truth, but keep mean spirited analysis and bullshit psychobabble out of it.
Enough said.
C 2018 All Rights Reserved Christine Trzyna.
