Irritatingly subtitled "adventures from a life in the screen trade"which makes you hopefully that its going to be an autobiography but it only covers a year or so. Not that that doesn't have value, I enjoyed the book, it's that's an annoying subtitle.
Beresford makes good company - smart, cultured (he genuinely loves movies, opera, music and art), opinionated and indiscreet. He's not slow in slagging off movies, coworkers, etc - but he's also quick to praise, and even better admits at times to have been wrong (mainly in failing to predict what will be a successful film - is this why he's made so much junk). It seems that Beresford still gets gigs overseas from Driving Miss Daisy.
It's fascinating to read an account of making a film that the director doesn't want to make (The Contract - John Cusack charges $4 million! For an action movie! No one wants to see Cusack in an action film) and to see just how thick skinned and tenacious you need to be eg executives and stars often say they're willing to make movies with anyone but Beresford, which must be a bit withering.
For all his gripes about failing to get up projects he wants to make and dealing with idiots life can still be pretty good - travelling all round the world, being put up in top quality accom at film festivals, whipping over to Italy to see friends - and many of his problems are whiny rich baby boomer problems(eg "I told the tenants of my London flat to draw the curtains as it ruins my paintings but they didn't listen").
His family life is a bit obscure - he is married but barely mentions his wife, and is his heavily overweight son a special needs child? No mention either of Long Tan.
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