Taking It All In

Taking It All In is the seventh compilation of film reviews by renowned critic Pauline Kael, featuring 150 pieces written for The New Yorker between 1980 and 1983. The collection includes reviews of major releases like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Tootsie, alongside lesser-known films that garnered critical acclaim but struggled commercially. The book contains Kael's influential essay "Why Are Movies So Bad?", written after her time spent in Los Angeles observing the film industry. This piece examines the relationship between Hollywood's financial priorities and the declining quality of mainstream cinema during the early 1980s. Kael's reviews stand as a cultural snapshot of American cinema in the early 1980s, documenting both commercial blockbusters and independent productions of the era. Her analysis spans genres and styles, from big-budget science fiction to intimate character studies. The collection represents Kael's broader concerns about the direction of American filmmaking, particularly the growing emphasis on immediate commercial success over artistic merit. Her writing challenges the period's developing tendency to judge films primarily by their box office performance rather than their creative achievements.

Readers consistently note Kael's sharp writing style and detailed film knowledge in these collected reviews from 1980-1983. Many appreciate her strong opinions and cultural commentary beyond just the films themselves. Likes: - Clear, passionate prose style that reads like a conversation - Deep analysis of movies in their social/historical context - Not afraid to go against popular opinion - Essays hold up decades later as film history Dislikes: - Can be dismissive of movies she doesn't connect with - Some find her tone overly harsh or arrogant - A few reviews feel dated in their cultural references - Essays vary in quality and depth Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (91 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (12 reviews) Reader quote: "Kael writes with such conviction and insight that even when I completely disagree with her take, I enjoy the ride." - Goodreads reviewer

For Keeps by Pauline Kael This collection of film criticism spans four decades of Kael's work and presents her complete reviews from The New Yorker in chronological order.

The Dark Side of the Screen by Foster Hirsch The book examines film noir through analysis of lighting, camera angles, narrative structure, and cultural context.

When the Lights Go Down by Pauline Kael These collected reviews from 1975-1980 showcase Kael's observations about the changing landscape of American cinema during a pivotal era in film history.

Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris The book traces five films nominated for Best Picture in 1967 to demonstrate how Hollywood transformed during the cultural revolution of the 1960s.

The American Cinema by Andrew Sarris This work establishes the auteur theory in American film criticism through analysis of directors' recurring themes and visual styles.

🎬 Pauline Kael was fired from The New Republic magazine in 1965 for writing a scathing review of "The Sound of Music," which she called "The Sound of Money" 📽️ During her career at The New Yorker (1968-1991), Kael never watched a movie twice before reviewing it, believing first impressions were most authentic 🎥 The title "Taking It All In" reflects Kael's immersive approach to criticism - she often wrote about a film's social context, audience reactions, and cultural impact alongside traditional critique 🌟 E.T., one of the films reviewed in this collection, became 1982's highest-grossing film and surpassed Star Wars as the highest-grossing film of all time (at that point) 🎞️ The early 1980s period covered in this book marked the rise of the summer blockbuster era, following the success of "Jaws" (1975) and "Star Wars" (1977), fundamentally changing Hollywood's business model