Terry Gilliam’s “pre-posthumous” memoir, as it is subtitled, is published shortly after an erroneous early obituary of Gilliam appeared in the film industry magazine Variety. While the juxtaposition is blackly amusing – you might even call it Gilliamesque – there is a disappointing lack of wit and joie de vivre in his so-called “Me, Me, Me, Memoir”. Those looking for an insight into his madcap creative process would be better off reading the Ian Christie-edited Gilliam on Gilliam, while casual fans will be bored by the too-lengthy description, taking up virtually half the book, of his early life in the US. Once he joins the Monty Python troupe, there is the odd revealing and amusing anecdote – especially about the difficult behaviour of Hunter S Thompson during the making of Gilliam’s screen version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – but the only film of his to be dealt with in any detail is his masterpiece, Brazil. The book is stunning to look at, but sadly light on any real insight into Gilliam’s inimitably warped mind.
Gilliamesque is published by Canongate (£30). Click here to order a copy for £24
