It’s a book about the endless rewriting of Up Close and Personal, which is one of the weakest and most pointless Hollywood-product movies I’ve seen from the last ten years, so it’s cool to hear how it got that way — I mean, originally it was supposed to be about Jessica Savitch, who apparently had maybe two redeeming qualities, and then the finished product is all glossy Michelle Pfeiffer.   Now I can’t wait to read my Savitch bio.   John Gregory Dunne is bitchy and lofty in the same style as his brother, but it’s less off-putting for whatever reason; his and Joan Didion’s snitty fax to Kate Guinzberg is a keeper.   A funny, zippy read.   (6/10/04)

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