Andrew McCarthy (2) (1962–)

This is an interesting book and even a little surprising since it is well written. McCarthy says that over the years he has done travel writing, which shows. I have never heard of his previous writing but his style is pleasant and moves easily. He does not usually have any universal insights, but he is good at psychologizing his own motivations and describing the reactions of others. He continually limits what he writes to what is useful to himself alone. The reader is just a companion shadow along for the reverie. This is a good sensation to have while reading a memoir. The book covers most of his life belying the book’s title which specifies the 80s. The final chapter of the book takes the reader down his long memory of the vague title Brat Pack and how it hurt him and helped him through the years. McCarthy was never my favorite actor from the 80s but he hit a string of hits which I really appreciate the existence of: Less Than Zero which was great (better than the original book once you knew that Ellis was parodying Joan Didion’s Play It As It Lays), Pretty in Pink, Class (his first movie with Rob Lowe, Mannequin (really funny, thanks to Donna Flores for letting me watch it), St Elmo’s Fire, which I have grown to appreciate. He talks about Ron Kovic going to see The Winter Soldier (play about the Vietnam War) which Kovic also talks about in his own book. The book is an homage to NYC where he apparently still lives. McCarthy was addicted to Xanax and an alcoholic which he needed to seek treatment for as he lives as a recovering alcoholic. McCarthy said he tried to model his acting demeanor on Golden Age actor Montgomery Clift. Worth reading, if you are fan of 80s movies.
B&W Pictures, Readers Guide of Questions, 217 pp.… (more)