| Document Type
|
:
|
BL
|
| Record Number
|
:
|
840899
|
| Main Entry
|
:
|
Smith-Rowsey, Daniel
|
| Title & Author
|
:
|
Blockbuster performances : : how actors contribute to cinema's biggest hits /\ Daniel Smith-Rowsey.
|
| Publication Statement
|
:
|
London :: Palgrave Macmillan,, [2018]
|
| Series Statement
|
:
|
Palgrave Studies in Screen Industries and Performance
|
| Page. NO
|
:
|
1 online resource
|
| ISBN
|
:
|
1137518790
|
|
|
:
|
: 9781137518798
|
|
|
:
|
1137518782
|
|
|
:
|
9781137518781
|
| Bibliographies/Indexes
|
:
|
Includes bibliographical references and index.
|
| Contents
|
:
|
Intro; Acknowledgments; Praise for Blockbuster Performances; Contents; List of Figures; Chapter 1: Why Do Critics and Scholars Dismiss Blockbuster Performances?; References; Chapter 2: Historical Epic Blockbusters: Are You Not Entertained ... By Actors?; Titanic (1997); Gladiator (2000); References; Chapter 3: Magic-Fantasy Blockbusters: One Whimsy to Rule Them All; The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); References; Chapter 4: Superhero Blockbusters: Actors Ahead of the Curve; The Dark Knight (2008); Iron Man (2008); References; Chapter 5: Crime Action Blockbusters: Performing Shaken, Not Stirred; Die Hard (1988); Skyfall (2012); Furious7 (2015); References; Chapter 6: Male-Led Science Fiction Blockbusters: Performing "Faster, More Intense"; Star Wars (1977); a.k.a. Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope; Back to the Future (1985); The Matrix (1999); References; Chapter 7: Female-Led Science Fiction Blockbusters: Performing "Stop Taking My Hand!"; Aliens (1986); The Hunger Games (2012); Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015); References; Chapter 8: Conclusion: Once More Around the Blockbuster; Index
|
| Abstract
|
:
|
This book examines performances in the American film industry's highest-earning and most influential films. Countering decades of discourse and the conventional notion that special effects are the real stars of Hollywood blockbusters, this book finds that the acting performances in these big-budget action movies are actually better, and more genre-appropriate, than reputed. It argues that while blockbusters are often edited for speed, thrills, and simplicity, and performances are sometimes tailored to this style, most major productions feature more scenes of stage-like acting than hyper-kinetic action. Knowing this, producers of the world's highest-budgeted motion pictures usually cast strong or generically appropriate actors. With chapters offering unique readings of some of cinema's biggest hits, such as The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Iron Man and The Hunger Games, this unprecedented study sheds new light on the importance of performance in the Hollywood blockbuster.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Blockbusters (Motion pictures)-- United States.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Motion picture acting-- Technique.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Motion picture acting.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Motion picture actors and actresses-- United States.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Blockbusters (Motion pictures)
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Motion picture acting.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Motion picture actors and actresses.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
United States.
|
| Dewey Classification
|
:
|
791.43028
|
| LC Classification
|
:
|
PN1995.9.A26 PN1993.5
|
|
|
:
|
PN1995.9.A26S55 2018
|