In a very different way, Bazin's book on Renoir. "The French Renoir" (Chapter 5) is perhaps the best, most complete, and most sophisticated statement of Bazin's aesthetic. Some of its passages are pure poetry, too.
Not so many books on avant-garde/experimental filmmakers come to mind. Lots of essay collections dedicated to a single filmmaker (e.g. the recent book on Ken Jacobs), but fewer sustained, book-length efforts. Several on Warhol, of course, but it's practically impossible to cover his total body of film work. JJ Murphy's recent THE BLACK HOLE OF THE CAMERA comes closest, and I highly recommend it.
get it. download it. read it. Bye it (not BUY it).
