We indulge in our share of Ratner-bashing here at the Screengrab, and why not? It’s not our fault he’s the director of Rush Hour 3. But we’ll give credit where credit is due: Brett Ratner has launched his own literary imprint, Rat Press. For the moment, try to ignore the fact that the crown jewel of the collection appears to be a collection of Scott Caan photographs. Scroll down and you’ll see a few more interesting entries, including Conversations with Marlon Brando by Lawrence Grobel and a book with the perfectly James Tobackian title Jim: The Author’s Self-Centered Memoir on the Great Jim Brown.

“For me, part of my film education was reading these types of books that talked about life experiences in Hollywood,” Ratner tells Movieline – and who knew Movieline still existed in any form? “I have the most incredible book collection; they’re just a big part of stuff I love to collect. But the Brando book is one that I’ve always loved, and when I met Lawrence Grobel, I told him: ‘I love your Capote book! I love your Brando book!’ And he said, “You know, the Brando book is available.” I said, “What? I want to publish it! Will you write a new outro for it?”

The Grobel book does sound like a find, if a little pricey at $25 a pop. “For ten truly remarkable days in July 1978, Lawrence Grobel spent every waking minute with legendary actor Marlon Brando and his family on Brando’s Tahitian island, Tetiaroa. It was the first time in twenty-five years that Brando, notorious for his reclusive, reticent lifestyle had granted an extended interview to anyone.”

Let’s hope the Rat Press series is a success and Ratner devotes as much time and energy to it as possible. Anything to keep him out of the director’s chair.

Related:
Brett Ratner Drinks Youngblood
Mike Tyson Speaks: Lend Him an Ear