Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film

The book is fine, I guess but is overshadowed by the love letter to criminals. It needs to be updated to reflect the heinous and horrific crimes of the (I gag saying their name) Weinstein's. The author needs to release an updated version and add in large black letters what this horrific sick, criminal did and the lives he destroyed all for the sake "of making movies". No amount of Hollywood or financial success can allow for such complicit writing.

This is the third Biskind book I have read. The first I picked up was his famous Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. Enjoying it so much, I purchased this book as well as Seeing is Believing, his book about the 50s. Seeing is Believing was a big letdown, as my review for the book demonstrates. It was with trepidation that I picked up Down and Dirty Pictures, but I was happy to see Biskind was sticking with his Easy Riders formula.Using Sundance and Miramax as his focal point, Biskind explores the so-called independent film movement from the late 1980s until around 2002. I say so-called independent film because Biskind pretty well demonstrates that by the mid 1990s most of what was hyped as independent film was being driven by studio divisions dedicated to them. I have no doubt true independent film still exists, but once Miramax shifted from acquisitions to production and studios began buying up companies like Miramax, folks with their own cameras and a few friends seem less likely to get distribution agreements.Biskind seems to have done extensive interviewing, though he acknowledges in the preface that he had access to the Weinsteins, the top men at Miramax, but had much more limited access to the folks at Sundance, including Robert Redford. As a result, the book deals more extensively with Miramax than Sundance. At times, it can become a little gossipy but those stories do a good job of demonstrating the personalities of the business and some of its harsh financial realities.If you read this book, you will walk away with a good understanding of the economics of the business, especially in the 1990s. You will also end up with a list of movies to add to your netflix list or to pick up at blockbuster.Of course, the book ends just before the Weinsteins split from Miramax (their baby from the start, named after their parents Miriam and Max) and started a new production company. Still, it encapsulates a moment in time where the Sundance Film Festival and Miramax exploded into the film industry and helped drive tremendous creative output that for the first time, reached an audience outside of Park City, Los Angeles, and New York.

This book is a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. It is a very good example of investigative journalism and also an example of poor editing. Please don't include everything you learned. Maybe he needed Harvey Weinstein to edit the book!What is good is a very detailed (perhaps too much so) look at the evolution of independent films from "Sex, Lies, & Videotapes" to the current state of independent films approaching the Hollywood route. There is no question he did exhaustive research and while he has been criticized for doing a hatchet job on Miramax and Redford, there are too many stories with the same theme for the portrait painted to not be substantially correct IMO. If you are a fan of film, whether you are a casual weekend fan of Hollywood fare or a student of serious film, there is something here for you. But generally this will be of interest if you enjoy following the business side of films and how the personalities affect this. However, the book also does a great job overlaying the careers of Steve Soderberg, Quentin Tarantino and Damon/Affleck in enough detail for the fans of "stars". The Damon/Affleck section is particularly interesting as it showed two kids viewed as actors making a conscious effort to tap into the indie craze to get their break in the business. In many respects it's like the old Stallone/Rocky story of having the screenplay and forcing Hollywood to use the author as the star.Now for the negative. His earlier book "Easy Rider/Raging Bull" covered the 70s film explosion in great depth. It appears he was trying to recreate the magic in this book. While the evolution of independent films is a worthwhile subject, what he ended up with is a book about Miramax with brief interludes about other stories that can almost be distractive. Just look at the title where he tries to throw too much explanation. To me, this is an unauthorized biography of Miramax. That's OK. There's plenty to cover there and he did it quite well. But to continue the charade by occasionally throwing in visits to the mess @ Sundance just distracts the reader. Maybe he thought it would help sell books by throwing some dirt on Redford.This book is a real commitment. It is long, detailed reading that takes time. But the payoff is worth it. It easy to see while you are reading that there will be many upset executives and I doubt he will have as much access if he makes another attempt at a Hollywood subject. Overall, I recommend this book for serious readers of Hollywood or the business of Hollywood

Enjoyed it. Apparently nobody read it over the past 20 years or else they would have been onto Harvey much earlier. I lived through the Golden age of the indies and it was pretty amazing. To be think we'll never see have that again is kind of sad.

I am re-reading this one. Especially in the light of newer sexual revelations, the Harvey Weinstein sections are seen in a new light. I wish Biskind had been privy to the real details on his harassment of so many young actresses. This book is well written and worth a read, be it for the first or second time.

I've always enjoyed Peter Biskind's writing - he takes you up close and personal into the film industry. It's similar to looking through a window - but you don't feel like a peeping tom. I think one needs to read Easy Riders, Raging Bulls first as Down and Dirty Pictures continues to take you through the hallways of the Industry. Peter takes no prisoners - tells it like it is and if you don't like that -then find something else to read.

A fascinating look behind the scenes of indie movie production. Written well before the "Weinstein Scandal" it paints a vivid picture of what awful human being these people are, and their lack of interest in anything except power and money.

I bought this book in light of all the Me Too stuff going on to see what the hell was going on. This book was written waaaay before all the stuff came out (2004 maybe?) so it has no political axe to grind/is not trying to form a conclusion and frame things to get there (like all news reporting nowadays).It's a fascinating look into Hollywood at the time, and after just 20-30 pages of hearing what Weinstein was like before he became REALLY powerful then you'll know that all the right on celebs who say they had 'no idea' what was going on are bare faced liars and hypocrites.When read in conjunction with other books you'll see that Hollywood is populated by maniacal narcissists who indulge their every whim and yet claim to be good and moral people while treating people terribly and abusing their bodies and others. Quite why we take a moral lead from these bunch of degenerates is beyond me. But then again they're in charge of making fantasy so they're good at surrounding themselves with it...

Just a brilliant insight into modern distribution, film studios, back-stabbing deals and huge egos. A must read for any independent filmmaker and anyone interested in movies. Someone bought this for me and said "bet you can't put it down," and although it starts slowly as soon as Harvey Weinstein makes his entrance, the Helter-skelter nature of events that follows is compelling and very, very addictive. I liked Easy Riders and Raging Bulls, but I loved Down and Dirty Pictures, the fact that it goes through the behind the scenes deals about Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Sex Lies and Videotape, Good Will Hunting and a whole host of films in everyone's recent memories seemed to strike a deeper cord. Strongly recommended.

Great book on the inside of the film industry

Fast and gritty, very real gossip on the Hollywood film industry

A boring read - especially after the thoroughly entertaining 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls' by the same author. I read about 3/4 of the book which could be surmised thus: The Miramax Brothers are ruthless industry bullies who always get their way and Robert Redfood is a **** who never has time for anyone and has cherry picked the best Raindance scripts for himself. That's about it!