David Thomson is celebrated as a leading authority on cinema, whose writings offer profound insights into the medium's essence. His work delves into the history of film, its cultural impact, and its artistic merit. With a keen eye for detail and an engaging prose, Thomson brings the world of cinema to life, providing readers with a unique perspective on its evolution and key figures. His influence on film criticism and essay writing is undeniable, cementing his status as a respected voice in the field.
A seasoned teacher, determined to inspire his Year 11 English class, initiates a project that connects students with over 250 successful Australians. By asking them about the books that shaped their teenage years, he uncovers over 130 heartfelt responses, each paired with brief biographies. This anthology highlights the profound influence of literature on personal growth and success, showcasing the power of reading to ignite passion and wisdom in young minds.
In The Fatal Alliance the acclaimed film critic David Thomson offers us one of his most provocative books yet—a rich, arresting, and troubling study of that most beloved genre: the war movie. It is not a standard history or survey of war films, although Thomson turns his typically piercing eye to many favorites—from All Quiet on the Western Front to The Bridge on the River Kwai to Saving Private Ryan. But The Fatal Alliance does much more, exploring how war and cinema in the twentieth century became inextricably linked. Movies had only begun to exist by the beginning of World War I, yet in less than a century, had transformed civilian experience of war—and history itself—for millions around the globe. This reality is the moral conundrum at the heart of Thomson’s book. War movies bring both prestige and are so often box office blockbusters; but is there something problematic at how much moviegoers enjoy depictions of violence on a grand scale, such as Apocalypse Now, Black Hawk Down, or even Star Wars? And what does this truth say about us, our culture, and our changing sense of warfare and the past?
This intriguing and useful guide offers readers a detailed look at the methods used by mariners and navigators in the early 19th century to measure longitude and determine their location on the open sea. Drawing on his extensive experience as a ship's captain and navigator, author David Thomson provides detailed tables and instructions for using the movements of the moon and stars to make precise calculations of longitude. With clear, concise language and insightful analysis, this book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of navigation and the use of celestial bodies for time-keeping and orientation.
First published in 1868, this classic guide to flower gardening by David Thomson provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practice of horticulture, with a particular focus on flowers. With practical advice on soil, planting, pruning, and pest management, as well as charming illustrations and descriptions of hundreds of flower varieties, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in gardening and botany.
This is a comprehensive guide to growing pineapples. Thomson covers everything from the history and botany of the fruit to the propagation, cultivation, and harvesting of pineapple plants. This book includes detailed instructions for forcing pineapples in hothouses and greenhouses, making it an essential resource for gardeners and farmers alike.
From the celebrated film critic and author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, a fascinating look at some of the cinema’s finest actors and how they approach their craft Meryl Streep, Marlon Brando, Anthony Hopkins, Carey Mulligan. When we watch these remarkable actors in a performance, we see only Sophie, Stanley Kowalski, Hannibal Lecter, or Cassie from Promising Young Woman. How are they able to transform our world in this way? How and why do they do what they do? In Acting Naturally, David Thomson sheds light on the actors who have shaped the film industry. He shrewdly analyzes these stars—among them, James Dean, Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington, Louise Brooks, Riz Ahmed, Sir Laurence Olivier, Viola Davis, and Jean Seberg—revealing how a sly smile, an extra-long pause, even a small gesture of the hand can draw in an audience. And he takes us behind the scenes to examine casting and all the other moments leading up to “Action!” Through intimate anecdote, humor, and the insight born of a lifetime watching and analyzing film, Thomson explores the real reasons why we go to the movies and looks at how they influence our lives. This book is not only necessary reading for an insider’s view of the industry but also a surprising investigation of the relationship between acting and living.
Ultimately an examination on how movies affect the way we think and how film
not only shapes our perceptions and our memories but in some ways comes to
stand in for them, Suspects can be read as an unsettling examination of
identity and the construction of self through the medium of narratives, or
simply as a fascinating take on movie...
