We here at DISSOLVE (Well, me. I'm 'we'. The royal 'we'. Me.) are happy to be associated with Amazon.com, the largest bookseller on the web. Amazon has many, many hard-to-find books - and with film and screenwriting books disappearing from print every day, it's nice to have an outlet that will hunt down those tough to locate copies. Also, being on the internet they don't have to sweat the shelf space, which means that the serious book you wanted about the life and work of Orson Welles hasn't been bumped by yet another insightful episode guide to 'The X-Files'.

I've selected a number of books that may be of interest to those of you who visit this page - keeping in mind that GeoCities doesn't allow pornography. There are published screenplays, books about the screenwriting process, how-to books, and other stuff that strikes my fancy. If you'd like to order one of the books below just click on the cover and you'll be whisked away to a magical place where that book will become yours. Okay, okay - you'll be whisked to Amazon.com, where the nice people will be more than happy to take your order. It's easy! Even I can figure it out!

Just another service from your friends here at DISSOLVE. (Well, 'friend'. Singular. Me. Me your friend. You get the idea.)

CLICK ON THE BOOK TO PURCHASE FROM AMAZON

FOUR FILMS OF WOODY ALLEN by Woody Allen
Wow! The scripts for ANNIE HALL, MANHATTAN and STARDUST MEMORIES? Almost makes reading INTERIORS seem okay. But seriously folks - Woody Allen is one of the most intelligent, prolific, insightful screenwriters in the history of film. And the fact that the three comedies in this book are among his best, funniest work make it a must-read.

BOOGIE NIGHTS by Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson's wickedly funny, oddly touching and always provocative Oscar-nominated screenplay. Watching BOOGIE NIGHTS is like taking a time machine back to the 70's when Scorsese, Ashby, Altman and Schrader were fresh, young and unafraid. And totally fucked up on drugs, but that's beside the point. BOOGIE NIGHTS is fearless, and in this day and age, that makes it something special.

THE TRUMAN SHOW by Andrew Niccol, Introduction by Peter Weir
The screenplay to one of the most original, enjoyable films in recent years. This is a later draft than the script I wrote about on the Script Reviews page, with some very smart, very clever changes. Amazing - they actually made a great script better.

CHINATOWN & THE LAST DETAIL: TWO SCREENPLAYS by Robert Towne
Two incredible scripts by legendary screenwriter Robert Towne. CHINATOWN is constantly held up as the perfect American screenplay by those teaching the craft, and if it's not it'll do until something better comes along.

CLERKS & CHASING AMY: TWO SCREENPLAYS by Kevin Smith
I've discussed the work of Kevin Smith a number of times on these pages, as I consider him one of the freshest, brightest, funniest writers to emerge in the past few years. His screenplays for CLERKS and CHASING AMY are his best work... at least until DOGMA comes out.

FARGO by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
The best script by two of the best screenwriters working today. The Coens have a unique voice, unlike anyone else out there, and it's on full display in this Oscar-winning screenplay.

GOODFELLAS by Martin Scorsese & Nicholas Pileggi
As close as Martin Scorsese has come to a real crowd-pleaser... well, as crowd-pleasing as anything that begins with a guy being stabbed to death in the trunk of a car can be, anyway. Not only lost the adapted screenplay Oscar to DANCES WITH WOLVES, but the director and picture Oscars as well. Scorsese must still wake up screaming.

ACT ONE by Moss Hart
The ultimate rags to riches story. Hart chronicles his youthful desires to be a playwright, which lead to a collaboration with his idol, George S. Kaufman. His stories of their trials and tribulations while writing ONCE IN A LIFETIME are funny, excruciating, and ultimately inspiring. With a true ending that even Hollywood couldn't match. I found this book to be a godsend when I was just starting out, as proof that once in a while dreams do come true.

REWRITES: A MEMOIR by Neil Simon
A warm, funny, and very moving autobiography by Neil Simon. Follows his life as a young playwright, through his initial successes and up to the death of his first wife. As good as anything he's ever written, which is a hell of a compliment.

GOOD WILL HUNTING by Matt Damon & Ben Affleck
The 1997 Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay was written by actors Damon and Affleck to give themselves something to star in. It, uh, worked. If they weren't so likable I'd hate those guys.

THE HUDSUCKER PROXY by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Considered by some to be the Coen Brothers' weakest effort, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY is still better than 95% of the comedies out there - partially because it doesn't include a talking animal of any kind. I'd be a happy man if something of this quality were considered my weakest script. Read it and judge for yourself.

JACKIE BROWN by Quentin Tarantino, based on the novel RUM PUNCH by Elmore Leonard
Looking to memorize Tarantino-speak for your next party? Here's the screenplay to JACKIE BROWN, with all of Quentin's dialog written down for easy memorization. Just, uh, don't invite me to that party, 'kay?

THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
In keeping with their scripts to ED WOOD and the upcoming Andy Kaufman bio-pic MAN ON THE MOON, Alexander and Karaszewski prove that they are masters of the off-center biography.

JAMES CAMERON'S TITANIC foreword by James Cameron, text by Ed W. Marsh
For all you hopeless romantics out there - and judging from TITANIC's grosses, that's most of you - here's the story behind the making of the most popular film in history. And it makes a lovely addition to your coffee table, as well!

TITANIC AND THE MAKING OF JAMES CAMERON by Paula Parisi
And hey! Here's another book about the making of the most popular film of all time! Whereas it's not terribly critical, it's also not a studio marketed tie-in. Suggested alternate title: TITANIC AND THE SCREAMING OF JAMES CAMERON.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Okay, so there're a lot of Coen Brothers scripts on this page, so sue me! Their films aren't only a blast to watch, they're fun to read as well. In the case of THE BIG LEBOWSKI, maybe funner.

MONKEY BUSINESS, DUCK SOUP & A DAY AT THE RACES
Classic, goofy comedies from the masters. Groucho Marx is still the quintessential smart-ass, and these scripts contain many of his best wisecracks. Not to mention the added bonus that DUCK SOUP was the only Marx Bros. film without a sappy love interest.

NIXON by Steven J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson and Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone may think I'm an "asshole" (see my U-TURN script review), but I still have a soft spot in my heart for his big, bombastic, take-no-prisoners style of filmmaking, which was on overdrive in his biography of Richard Nixon.

SCREAM by Kevin Williamson
The script that re-energized the horror genre - whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. Williamson's script is every bit as fun to read as the Wes Craven-directed thriller was to watch. That opening sequence is just as creepy on the page.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL by Brian Helgeland & Curtis Hanson, based on the novel by James Ellroy
The 1997 Oscar-winner for best adapted screenplay, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL was the critical fave of the year. And now that it's out on home video, people are actually seeing it - way to go Warner Bros. marketing department!

SCREENPLAY by Syd Field
An excellent starting point for beginning screenwriters. Field teaches the basics of structure and format, giving the first-time screenwriter a useful road map. But, as with most road maps, please remember that the most beautiful sights and most rewarding adventures are very often found off the beaten path.

ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE by William Goldman
The best book I've ever read about the trials and tribulations of being a screenwriter. Funny, insightful, funny, inspiring, funny, educational and funny, Goldman's take on the madness that is Hollywood is dead-on accurate. Plus it contains the screenplay to BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID! How can you beat that?

CASINO by Nicholas Pileggi & Martin Scorsese
Yeah, yeah - it's another mob story from Martin Scorsese. But so what? That's like complaining, "Ugh, not another Western from John Ford!" A terrific, underrated script. In fact, it's a real eye-popper!

SWINGERS by Jon Favreau
The very funny script to the film which actually made Rat Pack fashion seem kinda cool again. A great read for the Las Vegas trip alone. Contains THE SWINGERS RULES by Favreau and Vince Vaughn, which hilariously details the do's and don'ts of the L.A. nightclub scene.

U-TURN by John Ridley
Just to prove there are no hard feelings, here's John Ridley's script to my friend Ollie's U-TURN. Don't take my word for it, judge for yourself whether it's a rip-off of RED ROCK WEST. Heh heh heh.

PULP FICTION by Quentin Tarantino
The ultimate cool, rebellious, outsider, cult movie... which made over $100 million. The outside ain't as lonely as it used to be.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION by Frank Darabont, based on the novella by Stephen King
A great screenplay adaptation by Darabont. As moving to read as it was on screen. Contains detailed notes on the writing and editing process. In fact, any of the scripts published as part of the Newmarket Shooting Script Series are worth buying. They're laid out correctly, and contain insightful notes from the writers.

KILLER INSTINCT by Jane Hamsher
A wonderfully nasty behind-the-scenes look at the filming of NATURAL BORN KILLERS. This book makes the events in the film look positively sane in comparison.

EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS by Peter Biskind
The story of the filmmakers who broke through social and political barriers during the 70's to create great, groundbreaking films... only to crash and burn in the 80's. Plus a whole bunch of crazy Dennis Hopper stories! You can't get much more entertaining than that.

HIT & RUN by Nancy Griffin & Kim Masters
More nasty fun about the clueless, tasteless - but unfortunately not odorless - people who run movie studios. In this case, Jon Peters and Peter Guber, who managed to trash Columbia Pictures because their bosses at Sony left them in charge like two kids in a candy store. Big kids, big store, big trouble. Can you say HOOK? THE LAST ACTION HERO? RETURN TO THE BLUE LAGOON?

THE CELLULOID CLOSET by Vito Russo
The history of homosexuality in the movies. I list this book because I get completely trashed in it - for a bunch of stuff I didn't even write! Well, okay... one of the things I did kinda write. But it was changed when filmed to make it offensive to, well, Vito here.

PRETTY IN PINK: THE GOLDEN AGE OF TEENAGE MOVIES by Jonathan Bernstein
I have no idea whether this book is any good or not - it just cracks me up that someone would have the balls to use the phrase 'The Golden Age of Teenage Movies'.

BLOOD SIMPLE by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
The Coen Brothers' first film is both stylish and down-and-dirty... as well as wickedly funny. They returned to this territory with FARGO, but they handled it pretty well the first time around, if you ask me.

RAISING ARIZONA by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
The purest, balls-out comedy the Coens have written, this tale of baby-napping has more memorable lines than any ten comedies nowadays.

BARTON FINK & MILLER'S CROSSING by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Alright, it's the last of the Coen Brothers' scripts I'll hawk... mainly because it's the last available. But look, it's two in one book! BARTON FINK is their surreal meditation on creativity, set in 1930's Hollywood, and MILLER'S CROSSING is as intricate a caper movie as you were ever one step behind. Just buy 'em and I'll leave you alone.

A FISH CALLED WANDA by John Cleese & Charles Crichton
A fall-down funny farce (say that ten times fast) from former Monty Python member Cleese. Constant inventiveness and a nasty streak a mile wide - my kind of comedy.

THE GHOST & THE DARKNESS: ONLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE PARTS OF THE STORY ARE TRUE by William Goldman
Goldman is a terrific writer with a very distinct style that is as energetic on the page as the best films are onscreen.

THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE by Alan Bennett
Funny and touching account of George III's... well, difficulties. The madness of royalty is exposed, with a witheringly hilarious final shot at the current occupants of Windsor.

THE FISHER KING: THE BOOK OF THE FILM by Richard Lagravanese
An intelligent script by one of the best writers in the business. Hey, this is the guy who turned BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY into something you could actually watch!

JFK: THE BOOK OF THE FILM by Oliver Stone & Zachary Sklar
In a career filled with bombast and controversy, this is Stone's most bombastic and controversial film. Whether you agree or disagree with his theories, you've gotta admit they're fun to speculate about.

THREE PLAYS BY KAUFMAN & HART: ONCE IN A LIFETIME, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart
Want to read some great comedy writing with memorable characters and intricate structure? Here ya go.

AVALON, TIN MEN, DINER: THREE SCREENPLAYS by Barry Levinson
Levinson's 'Baltimore Trilogy'. Sheesh, if he can keep turning out scripts like these, he could make it his 'Baltimore Hundredgy' as far as I'm concerned.

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