neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Kid Stays In The Picture
	Brett Morgen and Nanette Burstein Robert Evans 2002		An oral history with visual aids, "The Kid Stays in the Picture" tells the tale of a semi-charmed life in the movie biz. It's a documentary about Robert Evans, a former clothing company executive and failed male "starlet" who became the successful head of Paramount Pictures until corporate infighting and personal excesses forced his early retirement. But it's also an insider view of the way things go down in the boardrooms and playpens of Hollywood. Narrated by Evans with excerpts from the audio-book version of his autobiography, the piece is made vivid by the filmmakers' clever animation of still photos that expand on the limited amount of archival footage depicting their subject. "The Kid..." is totally from Evans' perspective, so it can come off as a self-aggrandizing self-love fest, egomania on parade, as he reminisces about his studio successes and romances such as his short marriage to actress Ali MacGraw. Yet, his anecdotes about producing "The Godfather" and "Chinatown" offer crucial insights about the art and commerce of cinema.