Al Pacino: Anatomy of an Actor

I gave this as a gift. Really great pictures in it

All of Al Pacino's movies with beautiful pictures in a high quality book! Stories about him are so interesting in this great book!

Many would argue that Al Pacino is America's greatest living actor. At one point, I would have agreed but, in any case, movies buffs will undoubtedly enjoy the detailed, insightful analysis of Pacino's career found in Karina Longworth's AL PACINO, ANATOMY ON AN ACTOR. A 2013 Phaidon Press release. Longworth's book is part of the CAHIERS DU CINEMA series.Like other volumes in the series, Longworth's book explores and examines Pacino's career development by detailing "ten quintessential performances" that most directly display "the Al Pacino essence." Not all the films covered were big at the box office but they are, according to Longworth, the most useful in Pacino's development as an actor. Among the films covered are DOG DAY AFTERNOON, SERPICO, SCARFACE, SCENT OF A WOMAN, HEAT, JACK AND JILL(!) and, naturally, the GODFATHER trilogy. Longworth also interweaves Pacino's life-story with the film criticism to give a multi-layered portrait of the actor and man.Film buffs will enjoy Longworth's book. It goes far beyond the usual "The Films of xxx" books to present a probing, thoughtful and entertaining examination of an acclaimed actor. Recommended.*****For what it's worth: I divide Pacino's career into his early efforts and the later "Hoo-ah!" films. I thought his work in the 1970s was brilliant. His portrayal of Michael Corleone in the first two GODFATHER films was the finest depiction of corrupting evil ever put on the screen. I was less enamored of Pacino's talents as seen in later films like SCENT OF A WOMAN, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, etc.; too much over-the-top histrionics and 'Pacino-doing-Pacino.'

Great and perfect all the way up until the last chapter where the author exams Pacino's performance in jack and Jill which to me was a complete waste of a chapter and ink. Any other one of his great but unmentioned performances could have made the cut such as Donnie Brasco or carlitos way.

Love this books. I have the Brando one as well and want to get the Meryl Streep book. Lots of info and beautiful pix.