Description

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In his most inventive exploration of the medium yet, David Thomson—one of our most provocative authorities on all things cinema—shows us how to get more out of watching any movie. Guiding us through each element of the viewing experience, considering the significance of everything from what we see and hear on-screen—actors, shots, cuts, dialogue, music—to the specifics of how, where, and with whom we do the viewing, Thomson explicates the movie watching experience with his customary candor and wit. Delivering keen analyses of films ranging from Citizen Kane to 12 Years a Slave, in How to Watch a Movie, Thomson shows moviegoers how to more deeply appreciate both the artistry and the manipulation of film—and in so doing enriches our viewing experience immensely.

About the Author

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David Thomson has written about film for The Guardian, The Independent, The New York Times, The New Republic, Salon, Movieline, Film Comment, and Sight & Sound. He is the author of more than thirty books on film, including The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, Rosebud: The Story of Orson Welles, and The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood. He lives in San Francisco.

Praise For…

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“Your everyman guide to cinema. . . . Heady but practical.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“A love story. . . . A book that will get you thinking about the magic of film.” —NPR
 
“David Thomson’s love affair with the movies is one of the great blessings of our culture. How to Watch a Movie confirms yet again that he has the most learned and independent eyes in the criticism business. Somehow he freshens everything.” —Leon Wieseltier
 
“Chatty and authoritative. . . . Both wonderfully informative and a beautifully written paean to the movies and their continuing ability to inspire and enthrall.” —The Sunday Times (London)
 
“Easygoing, essayistic. . . . This isn’t an academic manual or Movies for Dummies. You read Thomson for contact with an urbane and provocative intelligence.” —The Washington Post