DVD Corner

Bill Moyers: A World Of Ideas- Writers DVD Review

Revealing interviews abound in “Bill Moyers: A World Of Ideas- Writers”.

In these 16 episodes, famed journalist, commentator, and former press secretary Bill Moyers has one on one interviews with authors Tom Wolfe, M.F.K. Fisher, Isaac Asimov, E.L. Doctorow, Carlos Fuentes, Chinua Achebe, Nadine Gordimer, Jeannette Haien, Joseph Heller, Toni Morrison, August Wilson, Derek Walcott, and Bharati Mukherjee. Moyers and the authors have deep intellectual conversations about such topics as religion, the environment, cultures, politics, age, health, life experiences, societal changes, love, art, change, novels and characters, government, music, and race.

While it can be argued that these interviews are self-important or downright pretentious, you have to admit that the topics of discussion are certainly important and meaningful. In so many interviews today, celebs and so forth are asked meaningless questions that cause viewers to roll their eyes. That doesn’t happen with Bill Moyers. Moyers knows the right questions to ask the interviewees and it shows in every episode of the series. Granted, some of the authors aren’t exactly exciting interviews (such as E.L. Doctorow), but the conversations are at least rewarding.

As far as the best interviews go, I have to say that Chinua Achebe, M.F.K. Fisher, and Tom Wolfe proved to be the most engaging subjects to me personally. Chinua’s honesty and thoughts about such topics as children’s literature really grabbed me as did Wolfe’s discussions about his work. As for M.F.K. Fiser, let’s just say she was an odd but fascinating interview. Throughout the entire interview, I was never quite sure what to make of her, but she cetainly was a unique individual to say the least.

Summary: There’s a lot of interesting content here, but I can’t imagine anyone would want to watch these interviews more than once. With that said, this DVD set is worth a rent if you like Moyers and or the authors.

The fullscreen picture quality varies since the recordings vary in age and quality. Generally, the episodes look as they did when they aired. Don’t expect any amazing restoration quality here.

The Dolby Digital Stereo track is flat, but the interviews are thankfully never hard to hear.

Extras include writers’ works text lists, a Bill Moyers text bio, trailers for “Six Centuries Of Versem,” and “The Adventure Of English,” a booklet featuring author bios, an intro. by Bill Moyers as  well as a piece about reading habits. Bonus interviews with Barbara Kingsolver, Arundhati Roy, Laura Restrepo, Doris Lessing, Alice Walker, Isabel Allende, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Louise Erdrich are also included. The most fascinating interview here is with the passionate author/protestor Arundhati Roy.

March 6, 2011 - Posted by nicklyons1 | DVD review | Bill Moyers: A World Of Ideas- Writers DVD Review, Isaac Asimov, Joseph Heller, Tom Wolfe