BOOK REVIEW: GILLIAMESQUE by Terry Gilliam

BOOK REVIEW: GILLIAMESQUE by Terry Gilliam
Canongate/Allen & Unwin, rrp AUD$59.99
1 October, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
10/10

Whether you come to Terry Gilliam’s “pre-posthumous memoir” as a fan of his ground-breaking cut and paste (with scissors and sticky tape – long before computer graphics) animation as one-sixth of the Monty Python troupe, or as a fan of his sometimes flawed but always imaginative, ambitious, visually and narratively artistic and exciting movies, Gilliamesque is a treat to immerse in.

Featuring a razor-sharp intelligence and a sparkling, self-deprecating and still rebellious anti-establishment wit, Gillliam tells his story well, preferring to share more of his own views and muse on the world around him than squander valuable time recalling every little detail or historical accuracy.

At times his text veers closer to a rant – but by geez he’s an engaging and entertaining ranter!

Most tellingly, in light of his biggest successes (Brazil, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys) and most devastating failures (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus) he insists that he will never sanction a “Director’s cut” of his films. This, he insists, is how he directed them, and is the best they could make them – for better or for worse –with the time, budget, backing and people they could muster. They are a perfect representation of their making, in their imperfections. The words of a true auteur.

Beautifully appointed in hard cover, jam-packed with sketches, artwork both old and new, photographs from his personal collection and hand-annotated most amusingly, it’s hard to imagine any fan of any facet of Gilliam’s work – or any fan of film in general – not treasuring this book.

Category: Book Reviews