Overview

Up-to-date, insightful take on modern American cinema's relations with and influence on Reagan's, Clinton's and both Bushs' administrations. In this book, George W.Bush, Clinton and Ronald Reagan's relations are revealed with radical celebrities like Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Warren Beatty. It contains unique 'behind the scenes' stories and exclusive, revealing interviews with Hollywood celebrities. Described by Tony Garnett as 'an ambitious and refreshing book', ""Hollywood's New Radicalism"" is a timely and contentious account of the last twenty-five years of American cinema. Ben Dickenson tells the story of the corporate take-over of the movies in the 1970s, and the subsequent transformation of Hollywood into the dominant force in the global media industry. Writing from the intersection where politics, society and cinema meet, and using exclusive interviews with Hollywood personalities, he explores the radicalising effect of such changes on liberal filmmakers like Warren Beatty, Michael Moore and Sean Penn in the past decade. He demonstrates how left-wing messages smuggled their way into 1980s movies, found a fuller voice in independent American cinema during the 1990s and flirted with mainstream popularity at the start of the new millennium. Bringing the story up to and through the 2004 Presidential election, he reveals how important Hollywood figures have become key members of a vigorous left-wing opposition to George W. Bush's Presidency.

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9781845110253

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Reviews

'The book is a rollercoaster ride, clambering up and plummeting down through wit, intelligence, pessimism and then shuddering to a reassuring halt with hope for the future.' 'Dickenson's work is a must read for anyone interested in media, culture and political activism. 'The Morning Star, 5th December 2005. Review by Nicola Lalaguna (her 'Pick') 'Dickenson's book gives an activist-eye view of the issues, with a wealth of interviews and a survey of reviews and articles.'Socialist Review, December 2005. Review by Louis Bayman 'Well informed about a complex subject, Dickenson achieves a finely-tuned balance between Hollywood politics and political films but, by his book's end, he's chasing celluloid shadows in an attempt to corral minor films into a polemical agenda' --Tom Dewe Mathews, Independent, 10th April 2006 SPLICE 'The book tells an important story with a positive message and for teachers represents a useful resource to reconsider contemporary Hollywood and society against the usual knee-jerk assumptions of Tinseltown conservative complicity.' '...plenty of useful and interesting facts to note'

'Here's a book that explains how the industry we're in really works and how some of us try to get a human message through the system. Without question an enjoyable and stimulating read.' - Ed Asner Ambitious and refreshing. Ben Dickenson displays a rare and welcome use of political ideas, to make sense of Hollywood beyond its trivial surface.' - Tony Garnett

Author Information

Ben Dickenson is a film writer and journalist and has a Master's degree in Film and Television from the University of Westminster.

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