Read This: The Kings of Hollywood, the Fast Family, Tilda on Tilda, and the Life of John Williams.

      It’s time for our inaugural column of 2026, focused on recommending the finest new filmmaking books. There’s no better way to start than with a new release that delves into the peak era of three legendary filmmakers.

      **The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg — and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema by Paul Fischer (Celadon Books)**

      Following the cultural exploration of the 1970s and 80s film scene in *Easy Riders, Raging Bulls*, can we shed more light on the works of Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg? Author Paul Fischer confidently affirms that there is, and *The Last Kings of Hollywood* stands as testament to that. The book encompasses the celebrated events, such as Lucas and Coppola working together on *Finian’s Rainbow*, Spielberg’s tumultuous journey with *Jaws*, and the paradigm-shifting successes of *The Godfather* and *Star Wars*. Fischer introduces new poignant insights, such as Lucas meeting with Terry Semel and John Calley at Warner Bros. to secure funding for Paul Schrader’s *Mishima*. Lucas had previously blamed Warner for the failure of *THX-1138*, and the interaction was less about the film and more about respect and saving face, demonstrating Lucas’s personal investment. Fischer’s adept storytelling renders the narrative of these three giants intimately relatable.

      **Tilda Swinton: Ongoing by Tilda Swinton (Rizzoli)**

      The most captivating cover of this column belongs to *Tilda Swinton: Ongoing*, and it’s easy to see why. It features a black-and-white image of the back of a head unmistakably belonging to Tilda Swinton. This stunning release from Rizzoli is filled with incredible photographs, stills, and posters (the poster for Derek Jarman’s *The Last of England* is a highlight) and includes conversations between Swinton and notable figures like Luca Guadagnino, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Joanna Hogg, and Pedro Almodóvar. A standout moment features Swinton and Guadagnino suggesting a series of films about America, where she proposes *Idiocracy* (2006). “I adore that film, though it's shifted from satire to documentary, with former WWE president and Gatorade pouring from the taps.” *Ongoing* is a delightful experience, showcasing the musings of one of our finest actors.

      **Welcome to the Family: The Explosive Story Behind Fast & Furious, the Blockbusters that Supercharged the World by Barry Hertz (Grand Central Publishing)**

      Barry Hertz, critic for the Globe and Mail, was the ideal choice to chronicle the Fast & Furious saga’s history, as his sharp X posts reveal. Even as someone who isn't particularly invested in Dominic Toretto and his crew, I found *Welcome to the Family* both engaging and informative. Hertz details the series’ evolution from average action flicks to a global phenomenon, navigating through volatile personalities (such as Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson), increasingly outrageous action sequences, and the sudden loss of lead actor Paul Walker. The book concludes on an uncertain note, with the future of the saga in question and focus turning to Vin. “Over ten films and a quarter-century, Diesel made audiences believe a car could soar,” Hertz writes. “But how long could he maintain that flight? Every journey has an end, and every driver ultimately must hit the brakes—or die trying."

      **John Williams: A Composer’s Life by Tim Greiving (Oxford University Press)**

      On February 8, composer John Williams turned 94, a joyous milestone made even better by the fact that Steven Spielberg’s upcoming *Disclosure Day* will feature a new score from Williams. The release of Tim Greiving’s *John Williams: A Composer’s Life* could not come at a better time. This extensive volume, nearly 600 pages long, reflects the legacy of a man who created the scores for *Jaws*, *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*, and the *Star Wars*, *Indiana Jones*, and *Harry Potter* series. What sets *A Composer’s Life* apart is its emphasis not only on these iconic scores but also on his compositions for films like *Empire of the Sun* and *JFK*. Oliver Stone notes that he sought Williams because his "music encapsulates American culture and national pride." Ultimately, *A Composer’s Life* urges us to appreciate John Williams’ brilliance.

      **Quick hits:**

      Eleanor Coppola and Martin Scorsese are pivotal figures discussed in *The Last Kings of Hollywood*. The former sadly passed away in 2024, leaving behind her final book, *Two of Me: Notes on Living and Leaving* (A24), which matches her remarkable *Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now* and *Notes on a Life* in depth. In *Living and Leaving*, she bravely