From dear reader John G. on Amazon:
"In "The First Nudie Musical," writer-director Bruce Kimmel showed his love for a Hollywood that was disappearing back in the 1970s as his camera panned across several movie marquees and theaters. They were a symbol of the dreams just bursting out of an ingenue new to town and eager to see her name in lights. Some of those theaters might have been the homes for Patrick Bronstein's films. He's the title character of Kimmel's latest novel, "Patrick Bronstein Presents," and he's also someone who fondly remembers LA's former glory, both in terms of the movies and the city's culinary scene.
Bronstein, a minor character in Kimmel's Adriana Hoffstetter mystery series, takes the spotlight here. For all of his professional career, he's made movies only a step or two above the pornography that Kimmel spoofed in "Nudie Musical." His brand of schlock, from ersatz biblical epics to horror flicks with killer linoleum, makes him sound like a low-budget Roger Corman or William Castle. He was always out to make a buck. But little did he realize the effect that his films had on several generations of movie lovers. He finds that out when he meets a young journalist, who wants to write a biography of Bronstein. It's a setup as formulaic as Golan-Globus movie, but that's part of the book's easy-going charm. It takes you on a ride you may be comfortable with and then surprises you with its frequent belly laughs, its nostalgia and even the few tears it manages to coax. It's also a sturdy enough structure to let Kimmel pay homage to a city that doesn't respect its past any more than it has ever respected its residents. We go along to restaurants from a bygone era that still manage to satisfy loyal customers with good food and good service. We're also treated to a Valentine to a tried-and-true style of filmmaking that worked despite non-existent budgets and even a lack of talent in many departments.
There's a lot going on "Patrick Bronstein Presents," and Kimmel manages to serve it up in a way that leaves you happily satisfied. This review has focused largely on the nostalgic glow of its backward glances, but I can't emphasize enough that it's also laugh-out-loud funny, from the culture clashes to the bumpy tour of cinematic creations that Bronstein gave the world. It's a meal to savor long after you've finished it."
