Natalie Portman: Queen of Hearts by James L. Dickerson

Having listen James Dickerson’s other audiobooks, I knew what to expect from this one — meticulous excellence. And, of course, a timely and fascinating subject.

The star of Natalie Portman continues to rise, her upcoming “Star Wars” movie will take her to another level and Dickerson shows us that her work speaks for itself. She’ll turn 21 in June, already has an impressive list of films and her adult beauty is just beginning to bloom.

Dickerson digs under the surface, of course, follows her path to fame and discusses her reluctance to reveal the private side of her life. This is an author who has the ability to not only tell the truth about his subjects (sometimes to their displeasure) but also to offer interesting commentary along the way.

What better time to latch on to the adult Miss Portman’s star and this is an excellent place to begin the ride.

Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars by Trish Biggar, Rick McCallum, Natalie Portman, and George Lucas

Trish Biggar was the costume designer of the ‘Star Wars’ Prequel Trilogy. In this beautiful book she details the work that went into the design of the many costumes used by all of the actors shown in the three movies. In addition there are several short articles or commentaries by George Lucas (writer, director), Rick McCallum (producer), Natalie Portman (Princess Amidala), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu).

This is a large format, coffee table type book. The printing, the photographs are excellent. In many cases for the more important costumes the original concept drawings are given along with a description of how they changed over time to become what we saw on the screen.

Most of the book is on the prequel, i.e. Episodes I, II, and III. There are pictures of the costumes used in the original three movies as well which show how fashion design might have changed over the time between the movies.

This is a fascinating book for Star Wars fans, and for anyone interested in seeing how movie costumes are developed (i.e. in at least one case, having custom fabrics woven).

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

“… I I I . I . R I , . (Natalie Portman) tells the toymaker (Dustin Hoffman) that he can’t die; he …”

kind of tweed-jacket-with-elbow-patches talk that may or may not impart useful knowledge and lasting inspiration, but almost surely gives all present some warm and fuzzy feelings.

But a “last lecture” by Randy Pausch was different in every possible way. The professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University was just 46, and this really was his last lecture — he was dying.

And dying fast. In the summer of 2006, Pausch had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a ferociously efficient killer. Only 4% of its victims are alive five years after diagnosis. Most die much faster. Think months, not years.

Pausch fought back. Surgery. Chemo. Progress. But in August of 2007, the cancer returned — and now it had metastasized to his liver and spleen. The new prognosis: 3-6 months of relative health, then a quick dispatch to the grave, leaving behind a wife and three little kids.

On September 18, 2007 — less than a month later — Randy Pausch gave his last lecture.

No one would have faulted him for launching a blast about desperately seizing opportunities in an irrational universe. Instead, Pausch delivered a laugh-filled session of teaching stories about going after your childhood dreams and helping others achieve theirs and enjoying every moment in your life — even the ones that break your heart. Pausch’s philosophy, in brief: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”

The lecture was taped, and slapped up on YouTube. Jeffrey Zaslow wrote about it in The Wall Street Journal, and news shows made Pausch “person of the week” — and soon Pausch had a book deal reported to be worth almost $7 million. Few expected him to be alive when it was published.

On February 19, I interviewed Randy Pausch for Reader’s Digest. To the surprise of many — including Pausch — he was still his recognizable, energetic self. As I write (in early April, 2008), Pausch reports he’s recovering from a standing eight count. But his good news doesn’t deceive him. He notes that pancreatic cancer did to the photographer Dith Pran (”The Killing Fields”) what Pol Pot couldn’t — it buried him in three months.

And now we have the book. It’s two books, really, because it reads one way with the author still among us and will surely read differently when “The Last Lecture” is like the The Butterfly and the Diving Bell — the record of a dead man, talking. The first book invites your support and gives you a wake-up call. The second, I suspect, is also a wake-up call but, between the lines, reminds you that even happiness can’t save you from death.

Somewhere in between — in the quiet space where a book really lives — is a document that accomplishes a lot in 200 pages. It’s about paying attention to what you think is important (when asked how he got tenure early, Pausch replied, “Call me at my office at 10 o’clock on Friday night and I’ll tell you”) and working hard and listening really well. It’s easy to miss that last part of that in the emotion and the stories surrounding this book, but Pausch argues that hearing what other people say about you and your work is crucial to success and happiness. Because this is what you get: “a feedback loop for life.”

So, if you must, shed your tears for Randy Pausch. Imagine what it would be like if you or your dearest loved one drew the card called pancreatic cancer. And then put dying aside, and get on with your dreams. Amazing how many you can achieve if you want them badly enough. And how they have the power to cushion the pain when the bad stuff happens.

Sounds crazy, I know: Pollyanna in the cancer ward. But I talked with the guy. And we laughed and laughed. Of all the achievements in a life that’s winding down, that’s got to be up there.

American Film Institute Desk Reference: The Complete Guide to Everything You Need to Know about the Movies by Melinda Corey and George Ochoa

“… 329,693,974 u Wars: Episode I the Phantom Menace 1999), starring Natalie Portman, gined the first Star Wars film as one of the …”

There are plenty of good books available on what films are out there and other books of the art of making films. We can find vertical market books on specific subjects that are film related. However this book is exactly hat the title implies. There is more depth to this book than just an overview or an introduction book. Although this book could be a good coffee table book it also makes a good desk reference book.

With 608 pages, most containing partial if not totally glossy color snaps from the famous and obscure movies of our time. The different subject or chapters have color coded tabs on the edge of the page allowing for quickly finding the information sought.

Although designed as a reference I found it more fun to read page by page picking up gems here and there that would never have been found by just reference searches.

Tags: Natalie Portman, Portman