Stone Reader (Special Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bruce Dobler, Carl Brandt, Frank Conroy (III), Robert C.S. Downs, Robert Ellis (VIII)DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Unknown; English (Original Language), Unknown
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 127 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-02-17
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: New Yorker Video
Movie Reviews of Stone Reader (Special Edition)
Movie Review: A Peach of a Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I find it sad that so many people panned this movie. There is an unmistakeable element of cynicism in those reviews -- a cynicism that reflects the negativity and misantropy that's rampant in today's culture.
I thought the movie was excellent. I can count on one hand the times I've seen a movie that, at certain points, made me cry. This was one of them. For example, when Mark Moscowitz calls Dow Mossman on the phone, introducing himself for the first time, they arrange to meet, whereupon Mossman says: "I hope I don't disappoint you." ... That was deeply moving.
There is also a fascinating *subtext* to this movie. On the one hand, Mark Moscowitz took a certain path in life that garnered for him ... a nice house ... a nice income ... a wife, a home and children in the suburbs -- while Dow Mossman took an entirely different path.
Moscowitz creates political ads (the truth be damned!); Mossman, on the other hand, in writing his novel sought the truth so intensely that he nearly went mad. In fact, in the voiceover commentay Mossman says to Moscowitz, in so many words: You're better than what you're doing. Society should have something better for you in mind.
In one of the DVD extras Roger Ebert, a strong advocate for the movie, says to Dow Mossman: I wish you could do a monologue for an hour a day on National Public Radio. Such is the brilliance of Mossman's observations and even-while-meandering thought-process.
I came to this discussion site thinking that not one person would have panned the movie; that it would be heartless not to be moved by the arch of this story -- "a man reborn," personally, professionally and artistically.
Not to dwell on those among us who are so negative but, frankly, I find the criticisms of the movie sophomoric. SO what if Mossman could have been discovered sooner. So what if the film quality and sound qulaity aren't always great. So what if Moscowitz included pictures of his house and children and backyard in the movie. That's not what the movie is about, knucklehead! Mark Moscowitz *isn't* a smooth, easy-to-swallow narrator. He's not a craftsman when it comes to making a movie. Quite the opposite, and that works for the movie, the amaateurishness of it. because the amateurishness of the "production values" only underlines what the movie is about -- CONTENT. Ideas, discovery, sharing, openness, vulnerability.
At first I didn't know what to make of Mark Moscowitz. But then I realized how much I respected him. Respected him because he loved books. And, no, he wasn't "showing off." Moscowitz and Mossman have a quality that all great teachers, all great communicators have -- ENTHUSIASM. "En theo" -- the god or spirit within. You can't help paying attention to them because all the while you're saying to yourself: "Hey, if this guy is so excited about what he's saying then I guess there's something to it, I better pay attention. ... Because truly enthusiastic people should be *encouraged* in our cynic-laden society. They should be respected, not sniped at.
One criticism of Moscowitz is that he's pushy. Forgive me but this strikes me as the kind of comment someone would make who *judges* as opposed to *understands.* Judgments are easy; they're as common as you-know-whats. And I don't mean belly buttons. Understanding, on the other hand, is what life and art and repect for the other person is all about.
The world is a big place; filled all too many sad, boring, uninspired, unenthusiastic people. So that when a handful come along who are excited and engaging and not afraid of showing thier love for books and ideas and the creative process in general (I'm of course speaking of *all* the people in this movie) -- then when push comes to shove, I'm on those guys' side. Because one thing people like that *aren't* is cynical.
Finally, I have the feeling that the people who gave this movie a negative review --from the comfort and anonymity of their computer desks -- hidden, anonymous and, as such, "private -- I think those people would perhaps be not so judgmental if they had to express their snipping, belittling remarks in a forum of living, breathing people. I think if that was the case, that is to say, if this discussion was taking place after the showing of the movie or perhaps in a classroom that the shallowness of their remarks might embarrass them.
Summary of Stone Reader (Special Edition)
Documentary filmmaker Mark Moskowitz turns literary sleuth in this marvelous tale of a vanished novelist. Enchanted by the 1972 novel The Stones of Summer, Moskowitz was surprised to discover no subsequent trace of the author, Dow Mossman. This led him on a roundabout search for the man, including nicely freewheeling detours to talk about writing with critic Leslie Fiedler and editor Robert Gottlieb, among many distinguished others. Although Moskowitz's detective format is somewhat labored, the true story of Mossman's retreat from writing is fascinating, and the joy of books (and talking about books) is always front and center. The suspense of Moskowitz's quest becomes real, and Stone Reader contains moments that would be implausible if they were in a fiction film--except, of course, they aren't made up. Bibliophiles of every stripe need to see this movie; and if you're not a book lover already, it may make you one. --Robert HortonSimilar DVD Movies
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