"A fascinating appraisal--and a reminder of how much of a maverick Mr. Friedkin has turned out to be, willingly or otherwise. . . . 'I embody arrogance, insecurity and ambition that spur me on as they hold me back, ' he writes. 'And while I've been healed of physical wounds, my character flaws remain for the most part unhealed. There's no point in saying I'll work on them.' But there is a point to immortalizing them, which this book so colorfully does." -- Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Entertaining. . . . This memoir is at its most engrossing when describing the solid, unpretentious entertainments its author once made so well." -- Wall Street Journal

"Movie fans will celebrate the natural storyteller at work in the pages of The Friedkin Connection, a welcome reminder that it takes so much more than talent to make a movie--and to keep making them." -- Associated Press

"Hardcore film geeks will salivate over this time capsule from a grateful and still-brilliant legend." -- Booklist

"For aspiring directors, a glimpse into the school of hard knocks, but there's plenty of good stuff, lean and well-written, for civilian film fans, too." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Friedkin's book does the unthinkable: It relates the behind-the-scenes stories of his triumphs but also sees Friedkin take responsibility (brutally so) for his wrong calls. . . . He captures the gut-wrenching shifts of a filmmaker's life." -- Variety

"Friedkin's memory for the process of filmmaking elevates this book above the usual score-settling Hollywood memoir; film buffs will be pleased with what he offers." -- Publishers Weekly

"Friedkin's against-all-odds success story is compelling reading from the start." -- LA Weekly

"Friedkin captures all the ups