His latest film, silver city received a two thumbs way up. 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. Referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent. John thomas sayles in schenectady, new york, 28 september 1950. The other eight films sayles has made as writerdirector to date may, in fact, be grouped in pairs.
His film men with guns 1997 was nominated for the golden globe for best foreign language film. Again, roger ebert is hardly present in the little movie glossary. Cannes, francejohn sayles has two movies in release these days, but he takes a credit on only one of them. Before john sayles was an oscarnominated screenwriter and celebrated independent filmmaker, he was a national book awardnominated writer of fiction. 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. Its well known in these parts that he was born and raised.
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. Roger eberts movie yearbook 2011 by roger ebert nook. It is the first theatrical film to be released and distributed by screen gems. 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 questions. Referred to by roger ebert as the conscience of american independent filmmaking, john sayles is the writerdirector of 18 movies. Limbo is a 1999 drama film written, produced, edited, and directed by american independent filmmaker john sayles. John sayles has 37 books on goodreads with 7810 ratings. All 17 titles average out to just under 3 words per movie moniker actually, 2. 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. Ive seen it twice, and after the second viewing, i began to realize how deeply, how subtly, the film has been constructed. The cineaste interviews university of minnesota press.
Either you knew them before you read them or you dont, in which case, you have no idea what anyones talking about. Government by the treachery and deception of words and host of roger sayles radio ranch. Roger ebert was also an honorary member of the directors guild of america. The brother from another planet 1984 sci fi in harlem and the secret of roan inish 1993 folktale in. Roger ebert january 1993 interview roger ebert january 2008 interview roger ebert july 2002. 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. Biography roger johns is a former corporate lawyer and retired college professor, and the author of the wallace hartman mysteries from st. Exploding with secrets, this novel has everything you could want in an intriguing mystery. The following are suggested books and other resources on topics covered in this issue. 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. But what will cause nightmares for younger kids will delight older ones, since the spiderwick chronicles is a wellcrafted family thriller that is truly scary and doesnt wimp out.
John sayles official sites, and other sites with posters, videos, photos and more. Getting what you wantenjoying what youve got, and more on. John sayles lone star contains so many riches, it humbles ordinary movies. 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.
Now john sayles has written his first short story collection in twentyfive years. Piranha 1979, lady in red 1979 and battle beyond the stars 1980, and made his debut as a writer. Our marketplace offers a huge selection of movies from sellers worldwide. 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. A guide to using films, solidarity forever, and the encyclopedia of the american left, and coauthor of detroit. 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. The interviews are introduced with a foreword by roger ebert, commentator and critic for the chicago suntimes. 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. 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. 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. Three books on the syrian conflict, written by leftists, provide original insights into the defining calamity of the 21st century.
He also wrote scripts for roger cormans new world e. More important, renzi has produced all the films in the john sayles canon with. Smart ass cripple, blogs, books, roger ebert, radio theater. 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. Hes more concerned with spinning a groundlevel human comedy than searching for pie in. W hen i said that i was going to interview john sayles, my friends shouted out their favorite movie titles.
John sayles is perhaps americas most celebrated independent filmmaker. 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. John sayles honeydripper is set at the intersection of two movements that would change american life forever. John sayles writer director editor silver city is john sayles 15th feature film.
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. 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. A warm welcome to roger eberts 7th annual film festival guests. In yellow earth, sayles spins a parable about native american resistance to corporate.
Interview roger ebert january 1993 interview roger ebert january 2008 interview roger ebert july 2002 interview roger. Roger ebert talks movingly about losing and refinding his voice ted 2011 the two roger eberts. He has twice been nominated for the academy award for best original screenplay, for passion fish 1992 and lone star 1996. In addition to writing more than 100 screenplays, he is the author of four novels and two short. Advance praise for river of secrets river of secrets continues the compelling story of toughasnails baton rouge police detective, wallace hartman. 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.
Sep, 2011 he shares his insights into movie stars and directors like john wayne and martin scorsese. The drama features mary elizabeth mastrantonio, david strathairn, vanessa martinez and kris kristofferson. John sayles director films as director and scriptwriter. 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. 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. The new republic sent sayles to detroit in the summer of 1980 to cover the republican national convention that nominated ronald. 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. 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. 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 18 films so far can obscure sayless literary output, fiction whose propulsive prose tackles similar. Ill never again as the sounddude to move that fuzzythingontheendofastick out of my shot. Laugh if you must, but imdb will tell you sayles once wrote a film for dolph lundgren.
A novel by john sayles and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. John thomas sayles born september 28, 1950 is an american independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. And if that hasnt changed your mind, think about this. But if i did idolize someone in the movie industry it would most likely be john sayles. Jun 02, 2011 john sayles books it back to schenectady. He received the carl sandburg literary award of the chicago public library and won the webby awards person of the year in 2010.
Signed articles do not necessarily express the position of the. Dan georgakas has been an editor of cineaste since 1969. John sayles walking alone, an interview with leslie felperin, in sight and sound london, september 1996. He was the author of seventeen books, including scorsese by ebert and awake in the dark. Roger ebert and gene siskel discuss hollywood culture, tv and movie violence and quentin tarantinos pulp fiction, the intricacies of the studio system and.
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. 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. 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. Democratic left is the magazine of the democratic socialists of america. The razzies awards for the worst movies of the year. Government by the treachery and deception of words.
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. Seagal is only a marked for death sequel away, should mr. Shop movies directed by john sayles on dvd, vhs, and rare video formats at alibris. 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. Shopworn conventions, and outdated archetypes roger ebert on. Roger eberts final list of his top 10 favorite films. Roger eberts final list of his top 10 favorite films open.
Born in panama city, florida, to an air force officer father and living in texas, new mexico, alaska and louisiana growing up. See all books authored by johnroger, including you cant afford the luxury of a negative thought, and wealth 101. Sayles is a movie maker of whom the washington post once snarked, if john sayles were a ballplayer, theyd call him leftynot for his pitching arm but for his politics. Roger ebert s criticism shows a nearly unequaled grasp of film history and technique, and formidable intellectual range. They may have more to do with each other than you might think, although that isnt his point. Things might be easier, john sayles sometimes thinks, if he were just starting out if he had no track record. According to roger, john sayles had displayed great promise from the very beginning, with his first two features, return of the secaucus.
It is only later, thinking about the film, that we appreciate the full reach of its material. Roger ebert lists the 10 essential characteristics of noir films. Lone star, an interview with dennis west and joan m. Roger eberts criticism shows a nearly unequaled grasp of film history and technique, and formidable intellectual range. Globe, the national book award, and the national book critics circle award. Filmmaker john sayles discusses a scene as danny glover left stands by on the set of honeydripper. The howling is a 1981 american horror film directed by joe dante and starring dee wallace, patrick macnee, dennis dugan, and robert picardo. 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. Among his classics are matewan, eight men out, and lone star. Scripts for genre movies like roger cormans piranha earned him cash for his own, starting in 1980. Mar 07, 2020 and when his first novel was optioned by hollywood, sayles learned that writing for movies was a goodpaying job. Roger eberts movie yearbook 2011 by roger ebert nook book. 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. And yet they arent thrown before us, to dazzle and impress.
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