The concept of Robert Hofler’s book is so simple, it’s all there in the title: VARIETY’S “THE MOVIE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE”: 120 CELEBRITIES PICK THE FILMS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE (FOR BETTER OR WORSE). For this collection, the VARIETY senior editor has assembled high-wattage responses by their professions, whether comedians, athletes, politicians or even fashion mavens.
Thus, in brief pieces, you can read how and why Larry King was affected by THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES; Rosario Dawson, by RESERVOIR DOGS; and Bill Maher, by SOME LIKE IT HOT, to name a few at random.
This kind of book is virtually critic-proof, as it does exactly what it says it will do. It all rests on whether what the celebs say is something you’re interested in hearing. The college-aged me might care to know why Seth Rogen digs CLERKS; 15 years later, it’s an entirely different story. —Rod Lott
