The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece
A novel
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks
"Wild, ambitious and exceptionally enjoyable." —Matt Haig, best-selling author The Midnight Library, The Humans and Reasons to Stay Alive
Part One of this story takes place in 1947. A troubled soldier, returning from the war, meets his talented five-year-old nephew, leaves an indelible impression, and then disappears for twenty-three years.
Cut to 1970: The nephew, now drawing underground comic books in Oakland, California, reconnects with his uncle and, remembering the comic book he saw when he was five, draws a new version with his uncle as a World War II fighting hero.
Cut to the present day: A commercially successful director discovers the 1970 comic book and decides to turn it into a contemporary superhero movie.
Cue the cast: We meet the film’s extremely difficult male star, his wonderful leading lady, the eccentric writer/director, the producer, the gofer production assistant, and everyone else on both sides of the camera.
Bonus material: Interspersed throughout are three comic books that are featured in the story—all created by Tom Hanks himself—including the comic book that becomes the official tie-in to this novel’s "major motion picture masterpiece."
*Includes a downloadable PDF of the comics from the book and a QR code for access to the original screenplay of Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
May 9, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593635414
- File size: 459776 KB
- Duration: 15:57:51
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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March 13, 2023
Actor Hanks explores the making of a superhero film epic in his entertaining debut novel (after the collection Uncommon Type). In 1947, Bob Falls finds it difficult to adapt back to civilian life after returning from the battlefields of WWII. In 1970, his artist nephew, Robby Andersen, creates a comic book series titled The Legend of Firefall inspired by his uncle’s experiences wielding a flamethrower in the Pacific theater. In the present, writer-director-producer Bill Johnson decides to use Andersen’s comic as the basis for a superhero film. Cast as Firefall is O.K. Bailey, an actor whose ego knows no bounds, while the female lead, Wren Lake, is as savvy as she is beautiful and talented. The shoot gets underway in Robby’s hometown of Lone Butte, Calif., where the production is complicated by marital disharmony between a rising star actor and his neglected wife, the unexpected death of a beloved character actor, and a stalker who threatens Wren’s life. Pages from Firefall, illustrated by R. Sikoryak, appear throughout and are a hoot (in one panel, Firefall’s sergeant gives the order “light ’em up” while lighting Firefall’s cigarette). Neither slashing satire nor moody melodrama, this sincerely Hanksian paean to the people behind the scenes of a movie production comes to life with great characters. It’s a winner. -
Tom Hanks brings his star quality to performing his digressive story about the 75-year transition of a 1940s comic book into a contemporary superhero movie. The audiobook covers so many levels of detail that the listener may get a little lost. Ultimately, the story of a flamethrower-wielding Marine from WWII who evolves into a movie superhero is well worth the journey, including the detours. Hanks does most of the heavy lifting, aided by a ton of actor friends who add luster to the story. Ego Nwodim, from "Saturday Night Live," is particularly adept as Al Mac-Teer, the almost superhuman assistant who proves to be indispensable to the production of the film. The audiobook includes a pdf of simulated comics from the work. A nice touch. M.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from June 10, 2024
Accompanied by a full cast, Hanks warmly narrates his full-length debut novel (following the short-story collection Uncommon Type), a lovely homage to filmmaking. Director and screenwriter Bill Johnson spends his COVID lockdown pondering how to give substance to a popular movie franchise's superhero story. While browsing old comics, Bill stumbles upon a one-shot about a WWII Marine who was a flamethrower during battles. With newfound inspiration and assistance from his co-producer and business partner Al Mac-Teer, Bill completes the script. The two then prepare for preproduction, which introduces several subplots about the cast and crew. A major storyline involves Robbie Anderson, the creator of the independent comic, which flashes back to 1947 when he met his uncle Bobby, a weary biker traumatized by the war. Hanks, who narrates most of the character-driven audiobook, uses various intonations to characterize Bill's gruff and Al's pragmatic vocals. His lighthearted and witty tone draws listeners into the story. Other cast members, such as Ego Nwodim who performs as Al during her backstory, maintain Hanks's upbeat energy. VERDICT From an idea to a film release, listeners will root for Bill, Al, and company during each step of the filmmaking process. A crowd-pleaser for all collections.--Anjelica Rufus-Barnes
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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