JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell

By Eric Hamburg

Book Overview

A revealing insider's look at one of Hollywood's most prominent, private, and notoriously difficult directors; at the way the film business works; and at the Washington/Hollywood connection. JFK,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586480294
• ISBN13: 9781586480295
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Book Review from the Hollywood Reporter 12/24/02

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone Dec. 24, 2002 By Michael Farkash Eric Hamburg Public Affairs,464 pages As the song goes, "Paranoia strikes deep." That's one of the central experiences of a savvy political aide and speechwriter who went to work for writer-director-producer Oliver Stone. Eric Hamburg's "JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me: An Idealist's Journey From Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell" is a sharp, well-written book that tunes into some familiar territory, notably the bad, mad geography of film production politics and the decades-old mysteries surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy and the Cuban connection. The book is very accessible, very readable and filled with admiration for professionals like Anthony Hopkins and mixed, mostly angry assessments of Stone and the people surrounding the filmmaker. The dark byways of the film biz should have been no surprise for the bright, politically astute Hamburg, who worked for years on Capitol Hill -- but then, hearing about the nasty, difficult parts of the film production process and living them are two quite different things. Serving as a producer and development executive at Stone's production company, Ixtlan, the author originated and won co-producing credits on the films "Nixon" and "Any Given Sunday." He explores the paranoid, vain, greedy, sometimes drug-fueled aspects of Stone's world of film development, where solid ground can often give way to a quicksand of uncertainty. Using his Washington connections, Stone's name and persistence, Hamburg was able to get key figures from the JFK and Nixon years to meet with him and Stone and persuade them to contribute stories and background to Stone's films. He also shares with us his research trips to places like Cuba and a brief meeting with Fidel Castro. But Hamburg became quickly disenchanted with what he calls the "Oliver Zone" -- suspicions, dark rages, drug use and a habit of playing staff people against one another. It's like royal court intrigue. Writes Hamburg: "Oliver was moody and unpredictable, often irrational and absolutely insane when it came to money. This was a very dangerous subject with him. "However, Hamburg received some good advice -- those three little words that mean everything in negotiations: "Hire a lawyer." In case the reader wonders if film development is a habit-forming occupation -- Hamburg continues working as a producer and writer in Los Angeles.

Tales from the Oliver Zone

I've read a couple of books now about Oliver Stone and his problems and I almost feel sorry for him (the other book I read was Jane Hamsher's KILLER INSTINCT, which demystifies both Stone and Quentin Tarantino).It kind of reminds of me of Linda Lovelace apologizing to Sammy Davis jr. in her book ORDEAL: Hollywood is filled with plenty of scumbags, Sammy just happened to be the one who did all the nasty stuff with her. It's just that this book was extremely entertaining and interesting. A quick read filled with some funny scenes of Hollywood absurdity...

A Revealing inside look at show business

I thought this book was revealing about how things really work in Hollywood, and Washington as well. It gives you an inside look into the players and the personalities, through specific examples fromthe author's work with people such as Senator John Kerry, Rep. Lee Hamilton, Oliver Stone, and Anthony Hopkins. Not many people have seen both ends of the spectrum from the inside the way this author has. The book has its share of Hollywood gossip and dirt, but also provides some real insights as well.

A riveting inside look at Hollywood and Washington!

This book is a riveting, entertaining and insightful look into the parallel universes of Washington and Hollywood, and the love/hate relationship that exists between them. Eric Hamburg has moved between both worlds and seen them from the inside in a way that few have. Hamburg, who started as a speechwriter for current Presidential candidate John Kerry in the Senate, provides fascinating glimpses into the power struggles that go on in Washington and especially on Capitol Hill. He also provides an up close look at the man who may be our next President.Hamburg also presents a fair and balanced portrait of Oliver Stone as filmmaker and human being, calling him both a genius and a madman at times. The author obviously knows his way around the JFK assassination as well as Watergate, and delves deeply into both. He presents new information about the murder of JFK which he researched in Cuba on Stone's behalf. He presents the most plausible scenario yet of what really happened in Dallas. For this alone, the book is worth buying.For Hollywood fans, the book also gives an inside look at the making of the movie Nixon, and at the human side of stars such as Anthony Hopkins and James Woods. It follows the process of making a film from start to finish in a way that few books have. Probably the best comparisons would be Jane Hamsher's Killer Instinct, or Julie Salamon's The Devil's Candy. The book is candid, funny and well written. If you're interested in movies, politics or both, read it!

Hollywod hell at its best!

I read this book in one sitting. A hilarious and revealing account by a Hollywood insider of the mad, mad world of Oliver Stone and the decadent culture of Hollywood. Also contains fascinating anecdotes about Washington and life on Capitol Hill, as well as the author's trips to Cuba and close encounters with Fidel Castro. This is a very unique and very funny book. I recommend it highly to anyone who is interested in Hollywood, Washington, politics or showbiz. They're all the same thing anyway!