by Pauline Kael
First published 1973
Pauline Kael gathers her movie reviews and essays written for Atlantic Monthly and other publications in this 1973 collection. The influential film critic examines contemporary cinema with her signature sharp wit and uncompromising opinions. Kael dissects performances, directorial choices, and cultural trends with the analytical precision that made her one of America's most respected movie critics. Her writing cuts through Hollywood pretense to reveal what makes films succeed or fail as both entertainment and art. The collection captures a pivotal moment in American cinema when traditional studio systems gave way to new creative voices. Kael's reviews offer readers her distinctive perspective on the movies that defined early 1970s filmmaking, delivered with the intellectual rigor and passionate engagement that established her reputation as a critic who could change how audiences understood cinema.
Genres: literary-criticism, 20th-century, criticism, film
Vibes: analytical, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: analytical, intellectual
Period: 1970s
458 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown