Full Description
The definitive analysis of one of cinema's most successful filmmakers.
No filmmaker has achieved Peter Jackson's particular combination of cult horror origins, art cinema acclaim, and blockbuster dominance. This book provides the first comprehensive examination of his entire career, from early splatter films, to the art cinema breakthrough Heavenly Creatures, to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, and beyond. Written by Barry Keith Grant, an internationally known film critic and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, this book delivers thoughtful close readings of every Jackson film.
Tracing Jackson's trajectory through detailed textual analysis, Grant examines how he mobilizes the conventions of Hollywood film genres to speak to audiences in his home country of New Zealand, as well as engage audiences around the world.
This volume examines the nature of Jackon's film authorship in the context of contemporary blockbuster filmmaking and the age of the internet. Coverage extends from his fiction films to his documentary work, including They Shall Not Grow Old, The Beatles: Get Back, and Now and Then.
Readers will also discover:
Close readings of all fiction films from Bad Taste through The Hobbit trilogy, analyzing Jackson's distinctive approach to genre and spectacle
Analysis of documentary restoration work that previous studies have overlooked, including acclaimed projects for the Imperial War Museum and Apple Corps
Examination of Jackson's films within the broader context of New Zealand cinema history and the country's emergence as a filmmaking hub
Discussion of film authorship theory applied to contemporary blockbuster production, franchise filmmaking, and digital-age audience engagement
Contextual analysis situating Jackson's work within Hollywood conventions while identifying his distinctly New Zealand cinematic voice and perspective
Film scholars, graduate students, cinephiles and fans of American cinema, Hollywood, New Zealand film, horror, fantasy, and film authorship will find this volume indispensable. Peter Jackson: Film Authorship in Global Hollywood offers the comprehensive critical treatment that one of cinema's most commercially successful directors has long deserved.
Contents
List of Figures vi
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xiv
Chapter 1 Figure and Ground 1
Chapter 2 Splatter Up!: Bad Taste (1987), Meet the Feebles (1989), Braindead (Dead Alive, 1992) 22
Chapter 3 In-Between: Heavenly Creatures (1995), The Frighteners (1996), The Lovely Bones (2009) 63
Chapter 4 Frodo Lives: Lord of the Rings (2001-2003), The Hobbit (2012-2014) 108
Chapter 5 King of Kings: King Kong (2005) 148
Chapter 6 Let There Be Light: Forgotten Silver (1995), They Shall Not Grow Old (2018),
The Beatles: Get Back (2021) 172
Conclusion Then and Now: Now and Then (2023) 208
Filmography 217
Bibliography 223
Index 000
