EBest in ShowE is the first in-depth look at the method behind film director and actor Christopher Guest’s madness a and genius. John Kenneth Muir focuses his attention on the acclaimed Guest-directed trilogy of what some call mockumentaries : EWaiting for GuffmanE EBest in ShowE and EA Mighty WindE. In these films Guest has escorted rapt audiences into the purportedly real worlds of a small-town theatrical company dog show competition and folk music festival. Muir also details the events that lead to Rob Reiner’s influential and legendary EThis Is Spinal TapE which ERolling StoneE called the best rock and roll movie of all time and in which Guest played the part of guitarist Nigel Tufnel.THMuch of EBest in ShowE exemplifies the unique process by which Guest directs films. He employs a common repertory company improvises scenes often without any rehearsal and does not use any screenplay with dialogue instead following a detailed outline often co-authored with his ace actor/writer Eugene Levy. Company members that have been interviewed for this book include Fred Willard Harry Shearer Bob Balaban and Michael Hitchcock.THGuest’s influences a ESaturday Night LiveE ENational LampoonE a as well as his more conventional comedies such as EThe Big PictureE and EAlmost HeroesE are studied. EBest in ShowE is general enough to bring new fans to the table yet detailed enough to satisfy the most in-the-know Guest fan and film student. A complete filmography with Guest’s directing acting and writing credits is included as is the appendix
You Know You’re in a Christopher Guest Film When … THGuest once commented
I am drawn to people who have dreams that are slightly out of reach. Now thanks to John Kenneth Muir the fascinating world of Christopher Guest and company is substantially more within reach.