The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece: A Novel

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 1,859 ratings

Price: 21.66

Last update: 05-24-2024


About this item

From the legendary actor and best-selling author: a novel about the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film...and the humble comic books that inspired it. Funny, touching, and wonderfully thought-provoking, while also capturing the changes in America and American culture since World War II.

"Wild, ambitious and exceptionally enjoyable."—Matt Haig, best-selling author The Midnight Library, The Humans and Reasons to Stay Alive

Part One of this story takes place in 1947. A troubled soldier, returning from the war, meets his talented five-year-old nephew, leaves an indelible impression, and then disappears for twenty-three years.

Cut to 1970: The nephew, now drawing underground comic books in Oakland, California, reconnects with his uncle and, remembering the comic book he saw when he was five, draws a new version with his uncle as a World War II fighting hero.

Cut to the present day: A commercially successful director discovers the 1970 comic book and decides to turn it into a contemporary superhero movie.

Cue the cast: We meet the film’s extremely difficult male star, his wonderful leading lady, the eccentric writer/director, the producer, the gofer production assistant, and everyone else on both sides of the camera.

Bonus material: Interspersed throughout are three comic books that are featured in the story—all created by Tom Hanks himself—including the comic book that becomes the official tie-in to this novel’s "major motion picture masterpiece."

*Includes a downloadable PDF of the comics from the book and a QR code for access to the original screenplay of Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

Greg D.
5.0 out of 5 stars really engaging
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
Great characters. Great story. Well told. Interesting view inside moviemaking. Grabs you immediately and doesn’t let go. Makes me wish there would be a sequel.
LA in Dallas
4.0 out of 5 stars Tom Hanks shows who he is
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2023
Tom Hanks, an actor, has written a novel. It is his debut novel. It is shockingly good.

You are not surprised to read this. I was not surprised to discover it. There are some people who will never do less than the best they can on any job they undertake, and whose best will never be less than very, very good. Tom Hanks is such a person.

The tone for The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece is set in the dedication

"For all the actors in the cast and every member of the crew"

As the title indicates, the novel tells the story of the making of a movie. But the stars of the novel are not the stars of the movie. The stars of the novel are a kid Robbie Andersen who draws comic books, an associate producer Al (short for Allicia) Mac-Teer, a PONY (think Uber or Lyft) driver, Ynez Gonzalez-Cruz, and the writer-director of the film Bill Johnson. Now, there are also actors, two of them the stars of the film, and they are important characters, but if this book were to be nominated for Oscars, they would be up for Best Supporting Actor/Actress.

It is exciting and funny and informative. (Seriously. The characters talk in impenetrable showbiz jargon, and the book is extensively footnoted to help the ignorant like me understand.) I certainly learned more about the facts and the feel of moviemaking than I have ever known. Here you will learn (what I have always wondered) what it is a producer actually DOES! And what is a gaffer, or a teamster...

The gist of the story is that the making of a movie is a creative, chaotic, unpredictable activity.

"Imagine a jet plane, the funds for which were held up by Congress, designed by poets, riveted together by musicians, supervised by executives fresh out of business school, to be piloted by wannabes with attention deficiencies. What are the chances that such an aeroplane is going to soar? There you have the making of a movie, ..."

The heart of the experience is "Principal Photography", known informally as "The Shoot", when the the film is actually recorded. At the beginning of the shoot Al explains to Ynez what it will be like. She calls it "The Blur". It is intense and chaotic and like nothing else.

Despite this, I was surprised at how ordinary the story was. It is people doing their jobs, and the heroes are those who do what they are supposed to do and solve more problems than they create. If you are a human who has ever worked at any serious project, this will sound familiar. In fact, I was reminded of Tracy Kidder's nonfiction accounts of the building of a house (House) or the design of a digital computer (The Soul of a New Machine).

The real secret here is that "The Blur" is not really "*The* Blur" -- it is "a Blur". The Blur of the Shoot is unique to movie-making, but it is a thing of the same kind as The Blur of scientific discovery (my own background), which is also unique, or The Blur of founding a corporation, which is yet another intense, chaotic Blur. Hanks understand this. He makes that clear in a sort of epilog written by Doctor Patrice Johnson, Writer-Director Bill Johnson's significant other, who is a scientist and educator.

TMOAMMPM is one of the best debut novels I have ever read. It is informative, funny, exciting, and just plain FUN!
C. Hopper
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read and gets you going from the start
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2023
I love the way Tom Hanks communicates verbally. His personality’s in movies always seems to come through whatever his character and his novel is very much like that indeed. It’s personable and fun and interesting and imaginative. You just can’t guess and imagine where his characters are going next and I love this unpredictability.
It’s well written ( yes he uses BIG words) but it’s more than intellect. It’s lively and could have been a real person experiencing life. But I wouldn’t say it is sad as I don’t think life is generally sad aside from unexpected acts of God. Unlike ‘real life’ these experiences are surreal, interesting and gets you all tangled up. I read quite a bit and as soon as a book becomes predictable I’ll put it down. Predictability in a novel is boring and lazy from the writers stand point. Sort of like when TV keeps spitting out remakes of old TV shows because they have no imagination to create new innovative interesting shows. ( that’s why I don’t watch TV.
I would encourage everyone to read his lovely book. It’s Grade A Tom Hanks imaginative brains work.
Steven A. Blomerth DC
5.0 out of 5 stars The in depth details of making a motion picture as well as some humor and philosophy on Life
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2024
This may be Tom Hanks 'Moby Dick', but with more humor and a better outcome.
This is a serious book and full of the details of the motion picture industry much as 'Moby Dick' was for whaling.Is it funny? Yes, many times. Is it laborious to read? Yes, quite a few times. Is it ultimately heart warming and uplifting? Yes. I head teary eyes as I read the last paragraph...Now I am reading the book for a second time without the skim and skip since I know the narrative. The second time I can better absorb the footnotes and asides.
David E. Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars somewhat good
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Fan of Mr. Hanks so I was excited to read this. I enjoyed learning some of the “behind the scenes” info, but this book is just too busy with details and character nuances. Nothing grabbed me to make this a page turner. The footnotes were great addition, though!
Blair Leatherwood
4.0 out of 5 stars A love letter
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
If you've ever been on a movie set, this rings true from page one. If you've never been on a movie set, this is your guide. Told with love for the craft, the art, and the people, it's heartwarming and funny, and you will come away with knowledge and respect for all that goes into making MMPMs. It does get a little slow towards the end, but that's truth as well!
It's also a love letter to Northern California. I'm from there and I know Tom knows it well (disclaimer: we shared a couple of years of college together); his affection for the region and its people shines through.
Laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars Tom can write too!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
I’m only about 1/3 through the book but can’t put it down. I also read Tom Hanks’ Uncommon Type which was super fun. Is there anything that guy can’t do? Buy it! Read it!
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Laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars Tom can write too!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
I’m only about 1/3 through the book but can’t put it down. I also read Tom Hanks’ Uncommon Type which was super fun. Is there anything that guy can’t do? Buy it! Read it!
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