Reeling

Reeling compiles film critic Pauline Kael's reviews from 1972-1975, originally published in The New Yorker magazine. The collection features reviews of major 1970s films including Last Tango in Paris and A Woman Under the Influence, alongside shorter critical pieces. Beyond standard reviews, the book contains an extended essay titled "On the Future of Movies" and Kael's analysis of The Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers Book by Arlene Croce. The work gained recognition from film critics, with four British Film Institute critics naming it among their essential cinema books in 2010. First published by Little Brown in 1976, Reeling is Kael's fifth collection of criticism and remains available in the UK through Marion Boyars Publishers. The book captures a specific period in 1970s American cinema through Kael's direct, uncompromising critical voice. The collection represents a vital document of film criticism during a transformative era in American moviemaking, examining how Hollywood's output reflected broader cultural shifts of the mid-1970s. Through her reviews, Kael explores changing attitudes toward sexuality, violence, and artistic expression in cinema.

Reader reviews highlight Kael's sharp observations and fearless criticism of 1970s films. The collection includes her famous takedowns of A Clockwork Orange and Last Tango in Paris. Readers appreciate: - Clear, conversational writing style - Detailed analysis of actors' performances - Cultural context provided for each film - Humor and wit in her negative reviews - Personal stories mixed with criticism Common criticisms: - Dense writing that can be hard to follow - Strong opinions that some find too harsh - References that feel dated today - Focus on films that are now obscure Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (238 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) "Her reviews make you want to watch the movies, even the ones she hates" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes exhausting but always thought-provoking" - Amazon reviewer "Like having a passionate film debate with a smart friend" - LibraryThing reviewer

When the Lights Go Down by Pauline Kael This collection of film reviews from 1975-1979 continues Kael's examination of American cinema through her distinctive critical lens at The New Yorker.

For Keeps: 30 Years at the Movies by Pauline Kael This comprehensive anthology spans Kael's career reviewing films from 1965-1991, providing a broader context for her work during the Reeling period.

The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968 by Andrew Sarris Sarris presents an auteur-focused analysis of American film history that provides historical foundation for the era Kael critiques.

Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris Harris examines the pivotal year 1967 in American film through five Best Picture nominees, establishing the cultural context that led to the films Kael reviews.

The Age of Movies: Selected Writings of Roger Ebert by Roger Ebert This collection showcases Ebert's reviews from the same era as Reeling, offering a complementary critical perspective on 1970s American cinema.

🎬 Pauline Kael was famously fired from McCall's magazine in 1965 for writing too many negative reviews, leading to her legendary career at The New Yorker. 📽️ The title "Reeling" reflects the tumultuous period in American cinema (1972-1975) when the studio system was crumbling and giving way to more experimental filmmaking. 🌟 Kael's review of "Last Tango in Paris" was so influential that it was published in The New Yorker before the film's U.S. release, becoming one of the most talked-about pieces of film criticism of the 1970s. 📚 This was Kael's sixth collection of reviews, published during what many consider the height of her influence as a critic, when filmmakers would anxiously await her verdicts. 🎥 The book covers the peak of the "New Hollywood" era, documenting the emergence of directors like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman, who would reshape American cinema.