Robert Redford: The Biography

Il s'agit d'une biographie très complète accompagnée de plusieurs photos.

On en apprend beaucoup sur cet acteur très discret et une large part de cet ouvrage est accordée à son action et à son engagement en faveur de la sauvegarde de l'environnement. Bien sûr, sa filmographie est présentée dans le détail, sans concession et de l'aveu même de l'acteur qui reconnaît avoir parfois cédé à la facilité, elle n'en est que plus objective. Il n'empêche, il s'agit d'un travail en profondeur qui nous présente Robert Redford comme un homme très engagé, loin du star système, préoccupé avant tout par le bien-être de ses proches et celui des minorités dont il défend si justement la cause. Si vous voulez tout savoir sur cet acteur, il vaut mieux comprendre l'anglais car il n'en existe pas de version traduite.

Fans of Robert Redford have waited a long time for a definitive biography. Given Mr. Redford's penchant for privacy, I honestly thought the only Redford biography we'd ever get would be after his passing, but alas, Mr. Callan has delivered after a decade and a half of preparation.As a fan of Redford's, I really enjoyed the insight into the making of all of his films, especially A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, and The Legend of Bagger Vance. Mr. Callan had Redford's cooperation on this book up to the point that Redford apparently didn't like the direction the project was going. It is a bit of a head-scratcher to me how Redford might have balked at the narrative of this book- it is, after all, a biography.However, it is a bit suspicious to me that this book was originally supposed to hit shelves on November 3, 2009 and has been delayed until its recent May 3, 2011 release. I say this because in July 2009, the NY Daily News reported Mr. Callan's book had some interesting tidbits on Redford's frustration working with a 13-year old Scarlett Johansson and her mother on the set of The Horse Whisperer; and yet, that material appears nowhere in the book's current form. Perhaps the delays had something to do with the removal of certain material. Nevertheless, Tom Cruise doesn't come off very well in the narrative of the making of 2007's Lions for Lambs.At any rate, here we get insights into Robert Redford from many collaborators over the years, including his kids and closest collaborator, the late, great Sydney Pollack. I was disappointed to see Paul Newman's insights are largely missing. The other thing I found strange is that there is really very little background given to Lola Van Wagenen, his wife of 27 years. Instead, we get a description of how stretched Redford was and then passing references to his marriage being in trouble. If we couldn't have had Lola's cooperation, I at least would have liked to have known a bit more about her.The book does an excellent job of describing the tension of Redford reconciling his celebrity with his need for privacy and truth in an industry that is largely cosmetic. We also get a very detailed timeline of the Sundance Institute, Redford's baby that consumed him during the 1980s. I especially liked the narrative about how Redford had difficulty maintaining friendships due to his being so transient. His son, Jamie, says that his father simply didn't value friendships if he didn't get anything intellectually out of them. His daughter Amy recalled that any fatherly wisdom she got from her dad was always on the move: skiing, on horseback, etc.As a big Redford fan, I have to say I was a little surprised at the lack of buzz for the release of this book. As of this date, the NY Times and, perhaps more egregiously, the LA Times have yet to even review the book. Robert Redford is as big a film star as we have in this country. When Elizabeth Taylor died earlier this year, a lot was made about how she was one of the great movie stars ever. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think she holds a candle to Robert Redford. Not even close. But because Redford is private and not in the gossip pages, his public image has perhaps waned in the last decade. It saddens me to think if this book had been released in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, it might have generated more buzz. Perhaps at 74 and winding down a superlative film career, Robert Redford just doesn't excite the public like he used to. That is too bad- he could teach a lot the younger celebrities a thing or two about dignity and how to carry yourself with class.Thank you Mr. Callan. Your work was worth the wait!

alles is bestens und schnell gelaufen,ich bin sehr zufrieden, endlich kann ich "Biography" von Robert Redford lesen,,,,,vielen,vielen dank,,,gerne wieder......