X Films: True Confessions of a Radical Filmmaker

Cox, Alex. X-Films: True Confessions of a Radical Filmmaker. Soft Skull. 2008. c.312p. photogs. index. pap. FILM~ This wry and informative memoir by one of the original indie maverick filmmakers is a fun romp through the production of ten of his movies over three decades and four continents. Highly recommended for academic and special collections. Background: British-born Cox, best known for Repo Man and Sid and Nancy, is an innovator in small-crew indie filmmaking whose movies often walk the edge of fringe cinema. His searches for funding, relationships with his cast and crew, and triumphs and frequent disappointments in securing distribution result in fascinating reading. The author's appealing voice makes this book stand out from the majority of Hollywood biographies; the ups and downs of life as an independent artist are all here, and it is fascinating to hear how Cox made the journey.--Christian Zabriskie, Queens Lib., NY.