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What's It All About, Alfie?
Film Stars! Dancing! Popcorn! At last, a life story with everything but the movie stuff edited out.
CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT
chronicles a love affair with film from the 1930s through the beginning of the new millennium. In addition to revealing personal movie-related experiences, film critic Betty Jo Tucker describes encounters with such veteran actors as Mickey Rooney and Charlton Heston, as well as with current stars like Angelina Jolie, Billy Crudup, Guy Pearce, and Brendan Fraser. This amusing memoir also contains the following ADDED ATTRACTIONS:
- a Movie Addiction Checklist
- a compendium of books and Websites for movie fans
- selected interviews
- photos
- reviews of more than 70 films released during 2000 and 2001 A.D.
“Movie fans will have a blast reading
CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT.”
-Diana Saenger, entertainment journalist
Excerpted from
CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT
Seeing Stars
Movie actors and filmmakers rarely miss coming to San Diego to promote their new films, probably because of the city’s
proximity to Hollywood. During my work as a film critic there, I met Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Ian McKellen, Joey Lauren Adams, M. Night Shyamalan, Hope Davis, John Herzfeld, Mike Figgis, Gregory Nava, Michael Rapaport, Lorenzo Lamas, Douglas McGrath, Charlton Heston, Masayuki Suo, Mickey Rooney, Tony Shalhoub, Jan Sverak,
Emilio Estevez, and Matthew Broderick.
Although I view having my picture taken with celebrities as unprofessional, Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller, co-stars of Hackers, insisted. I’m glad they did. My grandchildren ask to see that photo every time they come to visit. They are among Jolie’s many fans now, so my status with the younger set seems secure—for a while, at least.
Visiting San Diego for a personal appearance in connection with L.A. Confidential, Guy Pearce looked nothing like the prim detective from that acclaimed film. With his spiked hair and leather jacket, the diminutive actor resembled a rock star instead. My husband whispered to me, “I think they’ve brought in a ringer.” But
I disagreed. Why? Looking closer at the Australian-born Pearce, I spotted those penetrating blue eyes and high cheekbones that make him so photogenic in such movies as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Rules of Engagement, and Memento.
Although I didn’t officially interview Matthew Broderick, I met the popular star of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at a holiday celebration in Horton Plaza. Broderick’s
musical comedy performance in the San Diego trial run of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying received unfair pans by local critics. While
shaking his hand, I told him not to worry. “I saw your show and you were terrific,” I exclaimed. I mentioned my background in
musical comedy to make sure he understood my credentials. Broderick thanked me, smiled one of the widest grins I’ve ever seen, and wouldn’t let go of my hand. Later, when he won the Tony for this same performance, he said nothing about my encouraging words. I was heartbroken.
Meeting Mickey Rooney at the Palm Springs International Film Festival turned out to be the highlight of that 1995 event. Rooney expressed enthusiasm over playing Father Flannigan in The Road Home (shown on television as The Brothers’ Destiny), a movie premiering there. At a question and answer session for the San Diego Cinema Society, Mickey recalled portraying a Boys Town orphan as a co-star with Spencer Tracy, who originated the role of Father Flannigan, in that much earlier movie. “I’ve come full circle,” he said.
He also reminisced about working with Judy Garland. “I loved her. She was the greatest performer who ever lived,” he announced. Rooney then reminded us, “I was the
biggest box-office star in the world for two decades.”
How well I remember those popular Andy Hardy films—there were 15 of them—with their unsophisticated and amusing plots about a teenage boy and his family!
Betty Jo Tucker,
editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and host of Movie Addict Headquarters on BlogTalkRadio, is also the author of SUSAN SARANDON: A TRUE MAVERICK, which received Honorable Mention at the New York Book Festival.
WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT THE BOOK
Want to See Stars? This is the Place!
By Denise Cassino, Colorado)
An Insider's Tale: Betty Jo Tucker is in love. She always has been. From early childhood, Betty Jo has been smitten with the silver screen. Her love started as an infatuation and grew into a mature study of film and renown as a world-class movie critic.
In her book, CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, Betty Jo takes us through those early childhood memories of movies, covering her eyes at the scary part, acting out the roles of her favorite stars. Then she landed herself some real jobs as a film critic which gave her a pass into all of the biggest movie events from premieres to the Academy Award Presentations.
This book takes us through many of the hilarious adventures of a movie critic, from embarrassing moments to dining with the stars. Betty Jo shares with her reader many of her best and most clever interviews, sometimes with animated characters! Betty Jo also includes a plethora of reviews on dozens of movies giving the reader a critical, but fun summation of everything from box office hits to cult sleepers. This is a real insider's tale of seeking, meeting and interviewing many of the hottest movie stars ever to flash across a marquee.
If you want to know what it's like to dish and dine with the Hollywood crowd, this book will do the trick. Imagine meeting Angelina Jolie or hanging out with Debbie Reynolds! A great gift for any movie lover, CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT will make you green with envy at Betty Jo's inside access to the stars.
Loads of Laughs
By SHDD (Idaho)
In this book, Betty Jo Tucker has a definite way with words. She draws you in and shares her life experiences with you. The title says it all. Reading this book is like watching a movie. A smooth read or sure!! She gripped me in the beginning with her various stories of family, friendship, and finding love in the movie theater. Multiple times I caught myself laughing out loud...with noone else around. I give this book 5 stars. Kudos to Betty Jo Tucker!
A Wonderful Tale of a Moviegoer's Life at the Cinema
By A.J. Hakari
Whether she be recalling a mishap at an X-rated film, admitting she laughed out loud during 'Cabin Boy', or taking an imaginary film festival trip, film critic Betty Jo Tucker's novel CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT will have you envisioning her tales of a life at the movies as if she were talking directly to you. Betty Jo's stories are vivid, enthralling, and quite often amusing. Not only does it provide one wonderfully detailed story after another, Betty Jo's book comes with several of her to-the-point film reviews, a collection of celebrity interviews, a photo gallery, an index of movie-related books and websites, and a checklist to see if you indeed are a movie addict. I have read CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, and as a critic myself, I can proudly assure you that Betty Jo Tucker is one of the finest critics out there and a person who flat-out loves the movies, from the good to the bad. 'CoaMA' is an excellent slice of cinema life.
An E-book as Addicting Ten Years Later as the Paper Version
By hackwriter
In CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, Tucker shares her infectious joy in the moviegoing experience with the rest of us. It is truly a `life story with everything but the movies edited out.' Written in a breezy tone, CONFESSIONS is a snark-free zone. Tucker, who has set herself up as the premier lobbyist for the Return of the Movie Musical ... doesn't love everything on film, but you've got to love a critic who's eligible for Social Security but can still laugh her way through the likes of the surrealistically sophomoric CABIN BOY and who reacts to the ghastly THE PRINCESS DIARIES by remembering to call her granddaughters and tell them how terrific they are just as they are.
Wonderful book!
By P. Hall "Phil Hall" (New York, NY USA)
Colorado-based critic-reporter Betty Jo Tucker, whose writing can be found over the Net at ReelTalk Movie Reviews, brings both a detailed professionalism and an undisguised fan's adoration to her CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT. Chronicling her love affair with films, Tucker is wonderful as an observer and cogent as an interviewer.
Whether chatting with art-house or popcorn favorites, Tucker is blessed with knowing how to ask the right questions and how to steer a conversation in unexpected directions. (Her keen eye in viewing Hector Elizondo's graceful performance in Tortilla Soup had her correctly unearthing his early training as a dancer.)
She also has a talent for sharing the best anecdotes, ranging from an elderly Ruby Keeler expressing surprise that anyone still watched her films to an apologetic Charlton Heston explaining to a film festival audience the problem in successfully acquiring a Touch of Evil print to the droll inside scoop on how Annette Bening was cast in the 1995 film version of Richard III.
CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT is also spiced with Tucker's trenchant reviews. Approaching her subject with measured dignity (when the efforts are unsatisfactory) and mature enthusiasm (when the efforts are deemed worthy), Tucker goes far beyond being a mere movie addict and becomes a graceful, intelligent judge of cinematic offerings. It is a rare treat to find a critic who views films with respect, whether they deserve awards or airborne tomatoes.
Wonderful!
By Christopher A. mansel "Mansel" (Florence, Alabama)
Pauline Kael called her hugely successful book, "I Lost It At The Movies." Ms. Kael's book was more or less a collection of reviews where Ms. Tucker's book is an ardent embrace of a life spent in the dark while looking forward to getting back into the light to write. You can get the sense through the reviews, the stories, the interviews, and the photographs that Ms. Tucker certainly enjoys the movies. I know I do. In a world where some whorish film critics will sell their reviews for large type and a mention in a trailer, Ms. Tucker surpasses them all in her sweet portrayal of a movie addict.
I'm Hooked on Confessions of a Movie Addict!
Nancy Lombardo "Comedy Concepts Blog Talk Radio" (New York City)
"I love this book. It’s well written and filled with fascinating tales! Someone should buy the rights and make a movie out of it - it's that good."
"If Oscars were given out for the funniest book of the year,
CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT would win, hands down!”
--- James Colt Harrison, film historian
Book Promotion by Denise Cassino, Wizardly Web Designs
BONUSES!
Bonus #1 - E-book version of IT HAD TO BE US, an Award- Winning, Bestselling Memoir
Divorced and estranged for nearly two decades, Harry and Elizabeth Lawrence accidentally met again and rediscovered their lost love. In IT HAD TO BE US, Harry and Elizabeth share their feelings about the poignant events that brought them back together. Filled with humor, emotion, suspense, and a surprising Las Vegas encounter, this heartfelt romantic memoir proves genuine love can survive any of life’s problems. An amusing new honeymoon revelation and a section devoted to some of Elizabeth’s favorite romantic movies are also included in this 2010 expanded version of Harry and Elizabeth’s award-winning, bestselling E-book. (A book by Larry & Betty Jo Tucker, written under their pen name).
Bonus #2 - E-book version ofTHE REEL DEAL: WRITING ABOUT MOVIES
According to filmmaker Vera Zubarev, “Whoever you are – a student, a teacher, or just a film addict who wants to explore the enigmatic world of cinema at a new level, Betty Jo Tucker’s online course is for you.” This E-Book contains six lessons for wannabe film critics, but it’s also designed to enhance any reader’s understanding and interpretation of movies.
Bonus #3: Listen to the remarkable Debbie Reynolds discuss her legendary entertainment career.
Bonus #4: Listen to classic film actress Tippi Hedren speak out about her animal activism and her work with Alfred Hitchcock.
Bonus #5: Listen to Betty Jo Tucker’s interview with funnyman Fred Willard.
Bonus #6: Listen to the one and only Cloris Leachman talk about her candid autobiography and her acting career.
Bonus #7: Listen to actor Barry Bostwick discuss his fascinating experiences while filming The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Warren Epstein, Arts & Culture Editor of The Gazette in Colorado Springs says:
"I hate Betty Jo Tucker. As a fellow Colorado film critic, I’ve loathed her for years. Sure, you can call it professional jealousy. But see it from my perspective. We all go to a film festival. Most of us get an article or two out of it. Betty Jo gets an adventure. She ends up being served dinner by the filmmakers, for heaven’s sake! Well, now I have to put up with her book, CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, and, believe me, it’s about as Betty Jo as it can be. She takes us behind the scenes of the entertainment industry, sharing her favorite celebrity interviews and revealing her personal connections and passions for the movies. As if we care. (OK, the mishap at her first porn film had me laughing. But just a little.) You’ll probably read this book and fall in love with Betty Jo. See if I care."
In addition to other work, she is co-author of
IT HAD TO BE US, an award-winning, bestselling romantic memoir she and her husband wrote under the pseudonyms of Harry & Elizabeth Lawrence. She writes film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon and teaches an online course on writing about movies for the Long Story Short School of Writing. A founding member of the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS), Tucker also belongs to the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS).
