Celluloid is about dreams, movies are about fantasy, and motion pictures are about things you couldn’t possibly even imagine in your wildest dreams, brought vividly to life in front of your eyes. Cinema is about capturing the good and bad things that are pivotal in people’s life. [pg. xv]
Admit One: A Journey Into Film by Emmett James
Wheatmark; 2007
Nonfiction (Memoir); 198 pgs
I cannot remember which movie I saw first in the theater. Tootsie or Annie. Seeing Annie on the big screen was part of my birthday present one year, and, oh, I could not wait! The music, the singing, the dancing . . . All of it was like magic to me. I wanted to be Annie or better yet, her friend Molly. I memorized all of the lyrics to the songs and drove everyone around me crazy for years singing It’s the Hard Knock Life and Tomorrow. Be glad you cannot hear me as I write this—I’ve serenaded my husband, cat and dog with a few of my favorite songs from the musical, including Let’s Go To the Movies (not to mention made them watch YouTube videos). Tootsie was the first “grown up” movie I went to see that year. A friend and I went together, chaperoned by my friend’s mother. Dustin Hoffman was amazing—and I loved how it all turned out in the end.
Emmett James’ book, Admit One: A Journey Into Film, elicited many such memories from me. I imagine it helped too that he and I are not so different in age and many of the films that touched him early in his life were also ones that meant a lot to me. As an avid movie fan, I was quite excited at the opportunity of reading this book. Online publicist Lisa Roe was kind enough to arrange for me to receive a copy, and the author personally inscribed it (you probably disregarded by squeal of glee as a rather obnoxious bird flying by).
In Admit One, Emmett James takes readers on a journey through his life as it was defined by the movies he so loved. He dreamed of one day becoming an actor himself, a dream he has fully realized in his adult life.
Each chapter is titled after a movie that touched his life in one way or another. He describes how the movies influenced his early life as well as those of his friends, from digging a hole to Australia to hoping to get to first or second base with a girl in the back of a darkened theater. He took a job washing cars in the Miyagi style, honing his karate skills. Emmett got into trouble like many boys his age, endured sibling rivalry and his parents’ attempts at reform. Later in life, as he struggled to get noticed in the acting community, he proved himself to be quite clever and bold, even if a bit too eccentric for the times and not always being successful.
Not only is Admit One a book about the influence movies can have on our lives, even in the smallest of ways, but also about one man’s journey to making his dream come true. It was not an easy journey for Emmett James. He could barely make ends meet, took on shady jobs just to eek out a living, and was not always proud of the acting jobs he was given. He also had his successes, landing a role in a major movie and a staring role on a TV show, at least while it lasted. He makes a distinction between being a celebrity and being an actor. A big celebrity he may not yet be, but he has definitely earned his stripes as an actor.
Movies are not just a form of entertainment and escape (well, some arguably are). They can be influential, open lines of communication, make people think as well as feel compassion. Movies encourage the use of one’s imagination. Is it any wonder than that I am drawn both to movies and books?
Reading Admit One: A Journey Into Film was like a romp in the park, entertaining and humorous. The author does not let the reader too close into his own life, barely skimming the surface it seems like at times, but that approach suited the book just fine. Now I’ve got the urge to go out and rent Titanic for a glimpse of Mr. James.
Emmett James’ book, Admit One: A Journey Into Film, elicited many such memories from me. I imagine it helped too that he and I are not so different in age and many of the films that touched him early in his life were also ones that meant a lot to me. As an avid movie fan, I was quite excited at the opportunity of reading this book. Online publicist Lisa Roe was kind enough to arrange for me to receive a copy, and the author personally inscribed it (you probably disregarded by squeal of glee as a rather obnoxious bird flying by).
In Admit One, Emmett James takes readers on a journey through his life as it was defined by the movies he so loved. He dreamed of one day becoming an actor himself, a dream he has fully realized in his adult life.
Each chapter is titled after a movie that touched his life in one way or another. He describes how the movies influenced his early life as well as those of his friends, from digging a hole to Australia to hoping to get to first or second base with a girl in the back of a darkened theater. He took a job washing cars in the Miyagi style, honing his karate skills. Emmett got into trouble like many boys his age, endured sibling rivalry and his parents’ attempts at reform. Later in life, as he struggled to get noticed in the acting community, he proved himself to be quite clever and bold, even if a bit too eccentric for the times and not always being successful.
Not only is Admit One a book about the influence movies can have on our lives, even in the smallest of ways, but also about one man’s journey to making his dream come true. It was not an easy journey for Emmett James. He could barely make ends meet, took on shady jobs just to eek out a living, and was not always proud of the acting jobs he was given. He also had his successes, landing a role in a major movie and a staring role on a TV show, at least while it lasted. He makes a distinction between being a celebrity and being an actor. A big celebrity he may not yet be, but he has definitely earned his stripes as an actor.
Movies are not just a form of entertainment and escape (well, some arguably are). They can be influential, open lines of communication, make people think as well as feel compassion. Movies encourage the use of one’s imagination. Is it any wonder than that I am drawn both to movies and books?
Reading Admit One: A Journey Into Film was like a romp in the park, entertaining and humorous. The author does not let the reader too close into his own life, barely skimming the surface it seems like at times, but that approach suited the book just fine. Now I’ve got the urge to go out and rent Titanic for a glimpse of Mr. James.
Rating:
(Very Good)Learn more about the author through his website.
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