Book Reviews – Below the Line

How Spike Lee’s Photography Book SPIKE Captures the Director’s Evolution as an Artist

January 18, 2022 Eric Green Comments Off

Late last year, Chronicle Books released the first-ever career-spanning book of photography celebrating the work of iconic auteur Spike Lee. Titled SPIKE, it features hundreds of never-before-seen photographs by David Lee, Spike’s brother and longtime still photographer. With its colorful purple cover emblazoned in giant gold letters, this bold and beautiful 360-page book is comprised of a striking collection of both personal and professional photos that paint a portrait of Lee as a young […]

Review: House of Gucci Crumbles Under Its Weight, with Only Gaga Left Standing

November 22, 2021 J. Don Birnam Comments Off

What does it mean to be “Italian”? Like for so many subjective questions, the truth may be in the eye of the beholder. Italians of different regions would likely answer differently as would, no doubt, non-Italians. All thoughtful perspectives could be compelling and even intriguing. But in Ridley Scott’s upcoming film, House of Gucci, the answer is hackneyed, clownish, and, therefore, unconvincing. The film, about the intra-family squabbles that led […]

The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop Reveals Secrets Behind Movie Magic

November 2, 2016 Eli Williams Comments Off

The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, the new book by Richard M. Isackes and Karen L. Maness, takes readers behind the scenes of some of the most iconic movies ever made and offers unique insights on how they were made. A combination of essays (twelve in total) and gorgeous photography, the tome is both a history and illumination of the ‘art’ of background art. The book starts with a broad yet specific sweep over the scenic […]