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Pauline Kael: Life in the Dark - The Essential Guide to the Most Influential Film Critic of Our Time

Milan Kundera

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Pauline Kael was one of the most influential film critics of the 20th century. Her writing was sharp, witty, and often controversial, but it was always passionate and insightful. In her book Life in the Dark, Kael gives us a glimpse into her world of film criticism, sharing her thoughts on everything from Alfred Hitchcock to Steven Spielberg.

Kael was born in New York City in 1919. She began her career as a film critic in the 1950s, writing for publications such as The New Yorker and The New Republic. In 1968, she joined The New York Times, where she became one of the most respected and feared critics in the country.

Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark

by Brian Kellow

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2734 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	433 pages

Kael's writing was often controversial. She was known for her sharp tongue and her willingness to take on popular films and filmmakers. She was also a strong advocate for independent and foreign films.

Life in the Dark is a collection of Kael's best film criticism. The book includes her reviews of classic films such as Citizen Kane and The Godfather, as well as her thoughts on more recent films such as Pulp Fiction and The Thin Red Line.

Life in the Dark is an essential guide to the work of one of the most important film critics of our time. Kael's writing is insightful, entertaining, and often provocative. She was a true lover of film, and her passion for the medium shines through in every word she wrote.

Chapter 1: The Early Years
Chapter 2: The New Yorker Years
Chapter 3: The New York Times Years
Chapter 4: The Later Years

Chapter 1: The Early Years

Pauline Kael was born in New York City in 1919. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a social worker. Kael attended Hunter College and the University of California, Berkeley. She began her career as a film critic in the 1950s, writing for publications such as The New Yorker and The New Republic.

In her early years as a film critic, Kael was known for her sharp tongue and her willingness to take on popular films and filmmakers. She was also a strong advocate for independent and foreign films.

Chapter 2: The New Yorker Years

In 1968, Kael joined The New York Times, where she became one of the most respected and feared critics in the country. Her writing was often controversial, but it was always insightful and entertaining.

Kael's reviews of classic films such as Citizen Kane and The Godfather are still considered some of the best film criticism ever written. She was also a strong advocate for independent and foreign films, and she helped to bring attention to filmmakers such as Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa.

Chapter 3: The New York Times Years

Kael remained at The New York Times for over two decades. During that time, she became one of the most influential film critics in the world. Her writing was praised for its wit, intelligence, and passion.

Kael also used her platform at The New York Times to advocate for social and political causes. She was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement and the feminist movement. She also spoke out against the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

Chapter 4: The Later Years

Kael retired from The New York Times in 1991. She continued to write about film for other publications, and she also taught film criticism at New York University.

Kael died in 2001 at the age of 82. She left behind a legacy of groundbreaking film criticism that continues to influence critics and filmmakers today.

Pauline Kael was one of the most important film critics of the 20th century. Her writing was insightful, entertaining, and often provocative. She was a true lover of film, and her passion for the medium shines through in every word she wrote.

Life in the Dark is an essential guide to the work of one of the most important film critics of our time. Kael's writing is still relevant today, and it offers valuable insights into the art of film criticism.

If you are interested in film criticism, then you need to read Life in the Dark.

Pauline Kael Pauline Kael: A Life In The Dark

Pauline Kael was a prolific writer, and she published over 1,000 pieces of film criticism during her career. Her work has been collected in several books, including Going Steady (1970),Reeling (1976),and For Keeps (1982).

Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark

by Brian Kellow

4.2 out of 5