The book was the basis of a 2003 documentary film of the same title, directed by Kenneth Bowser and narrated by actor William H. Macy. The documentary was screened out of competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.[2]Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 100%, aggregated from the input of eight contributors.[3]
Several of the film-makers profiled in the book have criticized Biskind, many rather harshly. Robert Altman denounced both the book and Biskind's methods, saying "It was hate mail. We were all lured into talking to this guy because people thought he was a straight guy but he was filling a commission from the publisher for a hatchet job. He's the worst kind of human being I know."[4]
Francis Ford Coppola was highly critical, alleging that Biskind interviewed only people with negative opinions of him.[5]
The Sundance festival came under heavy criticism in Biskind's book. He describes it as "little more than a means to save a land deal that was going wrong, by dragging some punters up to his [Robert Redford's] failing ski resort." The author bemoans Redford as "untouchable in America" where he's considered "as pure as the driven snow," having "the best press of any Hollywood figure ever."[4] Biskind claims Sundance "has failed" if judged by its "original, loftier goal" to be "an institute to help outsiders."[6] Redford responded by saying that he'd never seen Biskind at Sundance and that the festival's success speaks for itself.[4]
Critic Roger Ebert reported Steven Spielberg saying of Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: "Every single word in that book about me is either erroneous or a lie."[7] Ebert himself remarked that "Biskind has a way of massaging his stories to suit his agenda."[7]
When asked about Biskind's portrayal of him as "a womanizer, a tyrant and a bully," director William Friedkin said: "I've actually never read the book, but I've talked to some of my friends who are portrayed in it, and we all share the opinion that it is partial truth, partial myth and partial out-and-out lies by mostly rejected girlfriends and wives."[8] Peter Bogdanovich was "furious," saying: "I spent seven hours with that guy over a period of days, and he got it all wrong".[9]
In a 2014 interview, Biskind stated he found the negative responses "very upsetting," saying, "Coppola...made three great movies, the two Godfathers and The Conversation. His place in film history is secure. If I had made those films, I wouldn’t give a damn what anyone wrote about me." He offered as a counterpoint Willian Friedkins' alleged reaction: "It's only a book." Biskind claimed he and Coppola made amends on a cruise in 2000,[5] though eye witnesses in the cruise stated that Coppola "grilled" and "needled" Biskind with "hostile questions," rendering the author "visibly uncomfortable," and that the director concluded with the words "I forgive [you]" in the manner that, in Godfather II, Michael Corleone forgives his brother Fredo right before he has him murdered.[10]
