ReFocus: The Films of Lawrence Kasdan

Critically examines the work of American filmmaker and screenwriter, Lawrence Kasdan

• Considers industrial, cultural and political contexts, revealing how Kasdan’s work has influenced – and been influenced by – wider American society
• Reconciles Kasdan’s screenwriting and directing to demonstrate how each role complements the other, raising questions about the director-centered approach that still dominates film studies
• Provides evidence of Kasdan’s significant contribution to the creation of the Star Wars saga and, by extension, modern cinematic storytelling

Lawrence Kasdan has created some of the most influential films in Hollywood history. He is the screenwriter of such beloved blockbusters as The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Bodyguard (1992), and The Force Awakens (2015). Simultaneously, he has gained critical acclaim as the director of pictures that dissect contemporary American society: Body Heat (1981), The Big Chill (1983), The Accidental Tourist (1988), and Grand Canyon (1991).

Frequently experimenting in different genres, Kasdan’s filmography defies easy classification, and this book is the very first global analysis of his career. Taking an inclusive, interdisciplinary approach in order to examine all aspects of his eclectic canon, the investigation reveals Lawrence Kasdan as a filmmaker who has helped shape modern American cinema, both through his screenplays for popular classics, and as writer-director of films synonymous with the largest demographic in US history.