All Those Moments: Stories of Heroes, Villains, Replicants, and Blade Runners

“All Those Moments: Stories of Heroes, Villains, Replicants and Blade Runners”, Rutger Hauer’s autobiography, was a damned enjoyable book.

It is no masterwork, but neither will fans be disappointed.

Hauer himself has always been a favored actor of mine. I was a big fan of many of his films when I was growing up, LadyHawke and Blade Runner being two on the forefront. Rutger always plays fantastic characters, but off screen, I never heard mention of him. As such, he has always been kind of an elusive celebrity. He never really made “A-list” ranking, but he was never B either. He is that temper-mental in between that the celeb rags and news organizations rarely pay attention to.

This book touches on his life, pre-Hollywood. The show more first few chapters detail his life as a child and teen, his wayward actor-parents, and his indecisive career. The depth of his history is kept minimal, covering most of his early years in a matter of a third of the book. I was left a bit wanting, feeling that i knew him better as a person, but only being allowed to see the private side that he had carefully dictated as “valid”.

Later chapters cover individual films he worked on and how he influenced the characters played, making them into the classic persona’s many of us know. Key/memorable elements that drive these movies were often brainstormed between himself and the directors, to a surprising degree this seems to have held true. A fine example would be the title of this book, taken from poetry spoken by Batty in Blade Runner.

“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time… like tears in rain… Time to die.”

“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” Said poetry would never have been included were it not for his input. He added this to the final scene, on the fly as he fleshed out his character on camera the last day of filming.

This book is not for everyone. People who have no real interest in Hauer or his filmography will not find some lusty industry secrets here to chit-chat in hushed voices about. It just is not that kind of memoir.

On the flip side, fans of his work, will find this very enjoyable time spent. The detailed look into his film history, combined with some background on his past, really shines a light on Hauer’s skill and love for the work.

Co-authored by crime-thriller writer Patrick Quinlan, the ebb and flow of this memoir was very comfortable. show less

Autobiography by Rutger Hauer. He gives us some info about his growing up in Holland and then about his movie career. Is a bit idealized it seems, he gets along with everyone and everyone likes him etc. But nice little insights into some of his movies and what he did to prepare for the various different roles. A nice read but again a bit idealized.

A fine cinematic autobiography - much missing perhaps, but a strong sense of who Rutger Hauer is. Could have done with a wart or two more, and some favourite films don't get a mention. Shame it hasn't got a complete (to date) filmography and a few more stills, but you can't have everything, very readable.

A must read for fans of Rutger Hauer and his movies. He takes us from his life growing up in the Netherlands to his first acting jobs on stage and screen in his home country. He provides thoughtful insight into his most memorable film roles. He also touches on his current life with his wife at home in The Netherlands and as he globe trots to different movie locations. The proceeds from this book go to Hauer’s Starfish Association, a foundation that raises awareness and support for the HIV/AIDS crisis in the Turks / Caicos Islands and in Africa

Ok, five star is a little bit too much - but I can't give 4 and an half.

Witty, ironic (and self-ironic), onest, interesting.