Get Stoned

“Chasing the Light” by Oliver Stone, 2020

The new autobiography of film director Oliver Stone, born 1946, covers his early years to 1987 when his signature "Platoon" won the Academy Award for the 1986 Best Motion Picture. That's not to say he doesn't reference more recent years, with chapters that refer to his youth, the films "Midnight Express,""Scarface," “Salvador” and filming in the jungles - but he concentrates on the first half of his career. Stone is very forthcoming about how he developed his screenplays and how he went about financing the production. In fact he is so forthcoming that he really gives a peek into the business of making movies in Hollywood in this day and age.  Stone makes it quite apparent that when a person wants to do films like many of his that question authority, it is even harder.

The title of the book, "Chasing the Light," refers to running out of light at the end of the day when he is on location shooting a film. Stone is very forthright in discussing the use of drugs and his personal life. It is an excellent book to read if you are a fan of Stone, want to know more about movie-making or want to take a look at the history of the 1960s-1980s through the eyes of one of the most influential artists of this period. This reviewer would definitely classify "Chasing the Light" as a good read.  It is now available at May Day Bookstore in the music and arts section.

Other prior blog reviews on this subject, use blog search box upper left:  “Wall Street – Money Never Sleeps” (Stone); “On the Trail of the Assassins,” “The Peoples’ Convention,” “American Art and the Vietnam War,” “Hollywood.” (Bukowski)

P.S. - Joe Rogan interviews Oliver Stone on his new book:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOrOYUxzX3o

Sam Snow

September 11, 2020