There And Back Again: An Actor's Tale (2004) - Plot & Excerpts
I had once read an interview with Gwyneth Paltrow where she explained how she places her films into two categories: good films and bad films. She seemed honest, but ungrateful, about her entire career. I remember finding her unattractive and boring, disappointed someone could lose so much perspective despite all the success and opportunity they had.And, unfortunately, that is how I view Sean Astin in There and Back Again An Actor's Tale.Astin's book reveals a number of insecurities, such as not getting enough screen time in almost any film he is in to his constant worry over his film salary. If there is one specific fact about the Lord of the Rings trilogy that I can take away from this book, it's that the films were a $270 million dollar franchisee. This book came out in 2004, so many of the stories he does describe regarding the filming (ex: Andy Serkis ripping Astin's wig off during rehearsal) are things I watched on the behind the scenes DVD or have read elsewhere in interviews, etc. But reading about how Astin felt under appreciated in almost anything quickly got annoying. By the time I got to the parts about LotR process, I began reading this book slower cause I just couldn't handle his tone. Since he was the child of two Hollywood actors, Astin possesses a sense of entitlement. The first third of the book, Astin discusses how his character didn't take off the way he wanted. How certain actors were more supported by agencies or studios and he was not. Or how certain experiences were picturesque and perfect (ex: filming Rudy - of course, cause he was the star). Even the LotR experience isn't enough. Astin complains about how he didn't connect with certain actors (the truly recognized ones, like Ian McKellan or Ian Holm) or how he felt the final cut of LotR: Return of the King was didn't "make him feel" (not enough Sam!). Many times, he writes how other people like Elijah Wood or his wife had to stop his "self-pity mechanism" by reminding him that LotR was a once in a life time opportunities. I'm sorry, his what?! "Being a selfish jerk" would have been the correct term.I'm being generous in giving this book 2 stars - but here's why. Although Astin's account seems it was written by a teenage boy, there is honesty in some of it. If he felt mistreated, he certainly did write it. Whether mistreated by other actors or studios or with himself, the book seems to be like Astin's personal journal. Astin makes some points about how difficult it was to get started in directing, especially if you are not even close to a household name in Hollywood (famous parents can only do so much). Same with his honesty with weight issues. If anything, these opinions gave more insight into the film industry itself, which was interesting.I finished the book with an understanding that even though actors may come to know the ins and outs of their characters, that does not mean actors are the characters. Samwise had a quiet strength that grew during moments of turmoils in Tolkien's unique masterpiece. Sean Astin simply played him - then complained about it.
I'm not entirely sure how I managed it, but I did read this book in one sitting. However, don't let that mislead you into thinking it's what blurb writers like to call "unputdownable". Far from it. Sean Astin seems like a nice guy on camera. In this book... hmm. Maybe not quite so much. That said, I get the feeling that a lot of his overly-critical, insecure and self-analytical mien has to do with depression that he apparently refuses to acknowledge. His mother, actress Patty Duke, notoriously struggled with bipolar disorder, and as Astin has political ambitions, he claims to want to keep away from the idea of being "labelled". It's a pity. I think some therapy would do this guy a lot of good.His wife sounds like a genuinely nice person, and the anecdotes about his work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy are especially interesting for someone who may never have had the patience to watch all those hours of extra footage on the extended edition DVDs. However, those are just the highlights of this book, and they don't comprise so much as half of it. I know an e-book is dragging when I find myself glancing at how far I have yet to go to finish it, and I did that at least twice with this one. It meanders, talking about subjects twenty years apart before revisiting scenes abandoned 30 pages ago in the middle of something completely different and going off at tangents when you least expect them. In all honesty, this book made me feel sorry for Astin more than anything else. He's over-privileged and doesn't seem to realise that, and doesn't appear to get on with other people very easily or know why he doesn't. As I've said before - this guy needs some therapy. And a better ghostwriter (or co-writer).2.5 stars (rounded down), the extra .5 for the pity factor and the inclusion of a few semi-awesome set photos from the filming of LotR (I laughed aloud at the one of Astin and Elijah Wood taken just after Sam's defeat of Shelob - Elijah's facial expression in his cocoon of spider-silk is a picture all by itself). I'd probably have rounded it up to 3 stars if I hadn't had to pay for it. I wish I'd started reading it in enough time after my purchase to be able to get a refund - for £4.50 it's an overpriced waste. Don't bother.
What do You think about There And Back Again: An Actor's Tale (2004)?
Read this years ago. My first impressions as I read the book were why did he write this? I did not see any other actor doing such a memoir. It just made me feel suspicious for whatever reason. And I also remember feeling that it kind of rambled like he really did not know himself why he wanted to write the book or who his audience was. Some other parts read rather 'self important' and he even mentioned, or at least that is what I remember, that he had some mental issues but did not want to talk about them in case he wanted to go into politics or something. I kind of felt sorry for him like I felt he did not have much self esteem or something and felt he had to write the book to make himself feel important. I dunno. That is how I felt when I first read the book.I also get the same impression, true or not, when I watch all that behind the scenes footage.
—Barbara
I read b/c I am a huge lifetime fan of the LOTR books, and I felt the movies surprisingly did right by JRRT! Also, I had just read and enjoyed Leonard Nimoy's I AM SPOCK. This was a bargain book, and based on the above interests, I thought it would be worth a try. I hoped I would like it.Well, the stories in this book for the most part were not what I was hoping. Content is much less about the filming process and location than it is about Astin's mental/emotional process and insecurities. It's a very PERSONAL memoir. You DO get some candid glimpses of the tv/film industry, but on a word count basis I'd say it's 75% Sean Astin's neuroses and 25% (or less) interesting facts. His account seems very honest, but also annoying. When I am annoyed at my own internal foibles, I only share them with a few select people. I certainly would not take myself so seriously as to think that hundreds or thousands of people want to read about that.I admit, I can relate to his crazy thought process, but I think it's crazy to have printed it for the world to see. I can't help but wonder if that will hurt him in the future, if any folks in the industry take the time to read this.The only people I would recommend to extreme fans of LOTR FILMS and anyone who needs encouragement in knowing that success is possible even for people who are neurotic and insecure.
—Stephanie "Jedigal"
Unfortunately, this book suffers from the author's apparent needs to 1) come off as modest and self-effacing and 2) not offend or piss off anyone in the movie industry.I was fascinated to read an insider's story about what it had been like to film my favorite movie trilogy of all times - Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. And who better to tell this tale than Samwise Gamgee himself, actor Sean Astin.Rather than a narrative or collection of anecdotes about what filming such an epic film had been like, Astin meanders all over the place, introducing event and industry people who had little to do with the movies but in some way affected his life. Too, Astin spends inordinate amount of time confessing how he often felt jealous of other actors and directors or envious of their talents/breaks/successes/whathaveyou as some sort of explanation from what I can only imagine had been some douchey behaviour on his part.Whenever Astin came remotely close to criticizing a fellow actor or director, he was quick to clarify that his first impression had been wrong or that he was in some way at fault for his feelings or that, really, despite behaving like a jerk, that person really was quite a great guy/girl. It was as if Astin feared that everyone would read this book and if he pissed off the wrong person, his career might be in jeopardy.Too, Astin would stick a toe over the line of boastfulness only to then throw a 180 degree turn and spend paragraphs reiterating how his accomplishments are nothing to be proud of and that others surely would do at least as well. It reminded me much of a person who purposely insults himself only so that others will reassure him of his own greatness.These problems conspired to create not an insider's glimpse into the adventure of making TLotR trilogy but a faintly sycophantic, self-promoting plea for recognition for his part in something great.
—Lynn
