For Keeps: 30 Years at the Movies

For Keeps compiles selected film reviews and essays written by influential critic Pauline Kael during her tenure at The New Yorker from 1968-1991. The collection includes her commentary on major films of the era, from Bonnie and Clyde to The Last Emperor. Kael's reviews combine deep cultural analysis with sharp observations about acting, directing, and the evolution of American cinema. Her writing style remains direct and opinionated, eschewing academic distance in favor of visceral responses to the movies she covers. The book preserves complete versions of her longer essays, including profiles of directors like Cary Grant and Robert Altman, alongside shorter reviews from The Current Cinema column. The chronological arrangement provides context for both the films and Kael's developing perspective across three decades. The collection demonstrates how popular film criticism can engage with movies as both art and entertainment, while documenting significant shifts in Hollywood and independent cinema during a transformative period. Kael's voice helped shape the conversation about what movies could achieve and mean to audiences.

Readers view For Keeps as a comprehensive collection of Kael's most memorable reviews from 1965-1991. Many cite her sharp, uncompromising voice and ability to analyze films within their cultural context. Readers appreciated: - Her unconventional, conversational writing style - Personal anecdotes mixed with analysis - Coverage of both mainstream and arthouse films - Detailed observations about acting performances Common criticisms: - Can be overly harsh or dismissive of certain directors - Some reviews feel dated or tied to specific time periods - Length (1,291 pages) makes it unwieldy as a reference - Occasional repetition between reviews Ratings: Goodreads: 4.37/5 (456 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (31 ratings) "Her reviews make you want to watch every film she discusses, even the ones she hates," noted one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads users mentioned using it as a film viewing guide, though some found the chronological organization less useful than thematic grouping would be.

I Lost it at the Movies by Pauline Kael The first collection of Kael's film criticism tracks the evolution of movies from 1954 to 1965 through reviews, essays, and analyses of cinema's relationship with audiences.

The American Cinema: Directors And Directions 1929-1968 by Andrew Sarris This landmark text establishes the auteur theory in American film criticism through detailed analysis of major directors and their signature styles.

When the Lights Go Down by Pauline Kael This collection presents Kael's reviews from 1975-1979, capturing a transformative period in American filmmaking through her distinctive critical voice.

For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism by Gerald Peary This comprehensive examination of American film criticism traces the development of the craft from the silent era through the digital age.

The Age of Movies: Selected Writings of Roger Ebert by Roger Ebert This collection spans Ebert's career at the Chicago Sun-Times, offering insights into films from the 1960s through the 2000s through reviews and essays.

🎬 Pauline Kael wrote for The New Yorker for 24 years and never watched a movie twice, believing the first viewing experience was the most pure and authentic. 📚 "For Keeps" compiles over 275 of Kael's most significant reviews and essays, spanning from 1954 to 1991, including her famous 7,000-word defense of "Bonnie and Clyde." 🎯 Kael's writing style was so influential that young critics who imitated her became known as "Paulettes" - including David Denby and Elvis Mitchell. 🌟 Despite having no formal education beyond high school, Kael became one of America's most respected film critics and received a George Polk Award for her criticism. 🎥 The book includes Kael's notorious pan of "The Sound of Music," which got her fired from McCall's magazine but led to her career-defining position at The New Yorker.