Hollywood's New Radicalism: War, Globalisation and the Movies from Reagan to George W. Bush (Cinema and Society)

Cover ; Contents; List of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; General Editor's Introduction; Introduction; Part One: The Inheritance; The creation of modern Hollywood; The movement last time; 'Greed is good'; The liberal Hollywood response to Reagan; War -- studio spectacle and directorial detractors; Challenge of the creative community; Part Two: The Crisis of Hollywood Liberalism; The context for Clinton; Clinton, heroism and the liberal Hollywood tradition; Globalisation and the alternative media expose of Clinton; The president's Hollywood friends.;Described by Tony Garnett as 'an ambitious and refreshing book', Hollywood's New Radicalism is a timely and contentious account of the last twenty-five years of American cinema. Ben Dickenson tells the story of the corporate take-over of the movies in the 1970s, and the subsequent transformation of Hollywood into the dominant force in the global media industry. Writing from the intersection where politics, society and cinema meet, and using exclusive interviews with Hollywood personalities, he explores the radicalising effect of such changes on liberal filmmakers like Warren Beatty, Michael Mo. This Text Is An Account Of The Last 25 Years Of American Cinema. The Author Tells The Story Of The Corporate Take-over Of The Movies In The 1970s, And The Subsequent Transformation Of Hollywood Into The Dominant Force In The Global Media Industry. He Explores The Effect Of Such Changes On Radical And Liberal Filmmakers. Pt. 1. The Inheritance -- The Creation Of Modern Hollywood -- The Movement Last Time -- Greed Is Good -- The Liberal Hollywood Response To Reagan -- War -- Studio Spectacle And Directorial Detractors -- Challenge Of The Creative Community -- Pt. 2. The Crisis Of Hollywood Liberalism -- The Context For Clinton -- Clinton, Heroism And The Liberal Hollywood Tradition -- Globalisation And The Alternative Media Exposé Of Clinton -- The President's Hollywood Friends -- Progressive Hollywood Responds -- The New Anti-corporate Thread -- Steven Soderbergh And The Brief Independent Boom -- Race And The Independent Movie -- Money Can't Buy You Bill -- Crisis Of The Progressive Agenda -- Old Heroes -- Warren Beatty -- New Heroes -- Reinventing The Liberal Tradition -- The New Liberal Aesthetic -- The Individual In Society. Pt. 3. The Next Generation -- 'oooo! We Hate Bush And We Hate Bush ... -- The New Movement -- Seattle And Cradle Will Rock -- Globalisation And George Bush Jr -- Local And Global -- Anti-capitalism In The Mainstream -- Progressive Ideology And Activism In Hollywood -- The Anti-capitalist Aesthetic And Its Ambiguous Brother -- Copying The Independent Gun Movie -- Trans-national Hollywood Business -- Michael Moore's Radical Documentary Phenomenon -- War, Resistance, Unity -- Individualist Film And The Collective Spirit -- Hey! Arnie, The Election. Ben Dickenson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [203]-211) And Index. Cover 1 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Acknowledgements 10 General Editor's Introduction 12 Introduction 14 Part One: The Inheritance 18 The creation of modern Hollywood 20 The movement last time 23 'Greed is good' 28 The liberal Hollywood response to Reagan 33 War - studio spectacle and directorial detractors 38 Challenge of the creative community 43 Part Two: The Crisis of Hollywood Liberalism 48 The context for Clinton 50 Clinton, heroism and the liberal Hollywood tradition 52 Globalisation and the alternative media expose of Clinton 58 The president's Hollywood friends 62 Progressive Hollywood responds - the new anti-corporate thread 70 Steven Soderbergh and the brief independent boom 76 Race and the independent movie 81 Money can't buy you Bill 92 Crisis of the progressive agenda 97 Old heroes - Warren Beatty 102 New heroes - re-inventing the liberal tradition 106 The new liberal aesthetic - the individual in society 113 Part Three: The Next Generation 122 'Ooooo! We hate Bush and we hate Bush... 124 The new movement - Seattle and 'Cradle Will Rock' 130 Globalisation and George Bush Jr 136 Local and global 142 Anti-capitalism in the mainstream 149 Progressive ideology and activism in Hollywood 154 The anti-capitalist aesthetic and its ambiguous brother 163 Copying the independent gun movie 168 Trans-national Hollywood business 173 Michael Moore's radical documentary phenomenon 182 War, resistance, unity 189 Individualist film and the collective spirit 196 Hey! Arnie, the election 205 Epilogue 210 Notes 220 Index 229 Provides an up-to-date, insightful take on modern American cinema's relations with, and influence on Reagan's, Clinton's and both Bush's administrations. George W.Bush, Clinton and Ronald Reagan's relations are revealed with radical celebrities like Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Warren Beatty. It contains unique 'behind the scenes' stories and exclusive, revealing interviews with Hollywood celebrities. Described by Tony Garnett as 'an ambitious and refreshing book', "Hollywood's New Radicalism" is a timely and contentious account of the last twenty-five years of American cinema. Ben Dickenson tells the story of the corporate take-over of the movies in the 1970s, and the subsequent transformation of Hollywood into the dominant force in the global media industry. Writing from the intersection where politics, society and cinema meet, and using exclusive interviews with Hollywood personalities, he explores the radicalising effect of such changes on liberal filmmakers like Warren Beatty, Michael Moore and Sean Penn in the past decade. He demonstrates how left-wing messages smuggled their way into 1980s movies, found a fuller voice in independent American cinema during the 1990s and flirted with mainstream popularity at the start of the new millennium. Bringing the story up to and through the 2004 Presidential election, he reveals how important Hollywood figures have become key members of a vigorous left - wing opposition to George W. Bush's Presidency.
Mixing political and film analysis with exclusive interviews with Hollywood movers and shakers, Ben Dickenson dissects the social context of the last twenty-five years, from Reagan's Presidency to George W. Bush. He uncovers significant political realignments in the movie industry, in its aesthetic values and in the make-up of Hollywood talent and traces how successive presidents and globalization have opened the way for the anti-globalization movement in Hollywood, which in turn has led to changes in film output. The book brings the story of Hollywood radicalism up to and through the 2004 Presidential election.