Jonathan Rosenbaum

Jonathan Rosenbaum is an American film critic and author who served as the head film critic for the Chicago Reader from 1987 to 2008. He has written extensively about cinema and published numerous influential books on film criticism and theory. Rosenbaum's work is characterized by his emphasis on international and independent cinema, with particular focus on directors like Jean-Luc Godard, Orson Welles, and Jacques Tati. His 1995 book "Placing Movies: The Practice of Film Criticism" and 2004's "Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons" are considered significant contributions to film scholarship. During his career, Rosenbaum has challenged mainstream critical consensus and commercial film culture, advocating for overlooked or misunderstood works. He maintains a website featuring his archived reviews and continues to contribute to various publications including Film Comment and Sight & Sound. His background includes work as a programmer for the British Film Institute and experience living in Paris, where he contributed to film magazines and collaborated with French critics. Rosenbaum's writing style combines historical analysis with personal perspective, informed by his extensive knowledge of film history and direct connections to many significant filmmakers.

Readers value Rosenbaum's deep knowledge of film history and his focus on overlooked international cinema. Many readers note his detailed analysis of Orson Welles and praise his ability to connect films across different eras and cultures. What readers liked: - Clear arguments backed by specific examples - Discovery of lesser-known films and directors - Historical context and background information - Personal anecdotes about filmmakers he knew What readers disliked: - Dense, academic writing style - Tendency toward lengthy tangents - Dismissive tone toward popular American films - Can be "pretentious" or "elitist" according to multiple Amazon reviews Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "Essential Cinema" - 4.1/5 (127 ratings) "Movies That Changed My Life" - 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: "Discovering Orson Welles" - 4.3/5 (11 reviews) "Placing Movies" - 4.2/5 (8 reviews) Most critical discussions occur in film forums and academic circles rather than consumer review sites.

Moving Places: A Life at the Movies (1980) An autobiographical work examining how cinema has shaped the author's life experiences and memories across different American locations.

Midnight Movies (1983) A study of six cult films including "Eraserhead" and "El Topo," co-written with J. Hoberman.

Placing Movies: The Practice of Film Criticism (1995) A collection of essays focusing on film analysis and the role of the critic in cinema culture.

Movies as Politics (1997) Essays exploring the political dimensions of various films and their relationship to society.

Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons (2004) An examination of significant films and filmmakers, discussing the concept of film canonization.

Discovering Orson Welles (2007) A compilation of writings about Orson Welles's films, career, and impact on cinema.

Goodbye Cinema, Hello Cinephilia: Film Culture in Transition (2010) Essays discussing changes in film culture during the shift from analog to digital cinema.

Dead Man (2000) A detailed analysis of Jim Jarmusch's 1995 Western film starring Johnny Depp.

On Film Festivals (2009) An examination of international film festivals and their role in film culture.

Abbas Kiarostami (2003) A study of the Iranian filmmaker's work and his contribution to world cinema.

Andrew Sarris wrote influential film criticism focused on auteur theory and director analysis. His work "The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968" established frameworks for evaluating directors that parallel Rosenbaum's analytical approach.

Manny Farber developed theories about "termite art" versus "white elephant art" in cinema through his essays and reviews. His writing style combined deep formal analysis with examination of cultural context, similar to Rosenbaum's method.

David Bordwell examines film form, style and history through detailed textual analysis and historical research. His books combine academic rigor with accessibility in discussing film techniques and meaning.

Robin Wood wrote extensively about Hollywood cinema and auteur directors like Hitchcock and Hawks. His political and psychoanalytic readings of films align with Rosenbaum's interest in both formal analysis and social context.

James Naremore focuses on film acting, noir cinema, and directors like Orson Welles and Vincente Minnelli. His work bridges academic film theory with more journalistic criticism in ways that echo Rosenbaum's approach.