One of the greatest and most influential film critics we've ever had in this country. She's up there with James Agee, in terms of how seriously she took film as an art form, and also her eloquence in writing about it. Nobody could be as bitingly unforgiving as Pauline Kael. But also, nobody could be as celebratory. You read her reviews and if you're a film fanatic like me, you feel validated in the fact that watching movies is, basically, a reaaallllly cool and worthwhile way to spend your time.
My dad gave me a harcover copy of her book 5001 Nights at the Movies, which is an astonishing piece of work. Overwhelming. I've spent hours flipping through it. In it, she has compiled sound-bites from the literally thousands of reviews she did over her career. 5001 movies, folks. With a paragraph of amazing analysis for each one. She writes in her introduction:
There were no strict rules in selecting this batch of brief notices from among the thousands more that I've got piled up. I wanted to suggest the range of what movies have done, and so I've brought together silent films and talkies, foreign films and American ones, and even some shorts. You won't find Gone with the Wind or Wizard of Oz. Omitting them is a gesture: I wouldn't want anyone to take this book for a complete guide to movies. But I hope that it is a guide to the varieties of pleasures that are available at the movies -- from the fun to be had at the juicier forms of trash to the overwhelming emotions that are called up by great work.
So. Going through alphabetically, I am going to post some of these. If you've seen the movie, I will be very eager to hear your thoughts about her analysis.
First up?
The Abdication (1974)
This Warners picture about Queen Christina's stepping down from the Swedish throne, in 1654, is embalmed in such reverence for its own cultural elevation that it loses all contact with the audience. Liv Ullmann is the virgin queen who becomes a Catholic hoping to find ecstasy in God and Peter Finch is the cardinal who examines her motives. Anthony Harvey directed, on his knees. We're never allowed to forget the exalted rank of the characters, and nothing like human speech intrudes upon the relentless dignity of Ruth Wolff's script (adapted from her own play). Ullmann doesn't have the high style or the mystery that her grand-gesture role requires; her performance is dutifully wrought and properly weighted -- she's like a hausfrau who's too conscientious to give good parties.
hahaha
I haven't seen this one, actually, so I can't comment. I think I can skip it though, what do you think? Anyone seen this movie?
Pauline Kael was as influential to me growing up as (I'm guessing) Alexander Hamilton was to you, Red. I devoured her movie review collections and her essays (the famous one about Cary Grant, of course). She's so in love with movies and her critiques are so incisive that I believe she changed movies more than any filmmaker. I also LOVE her writing style and have appropriated many of her technigues over the years. Her writing is vibrant, like reading a letter from a very articulate, animated friend. Of course, when you stumble upon one of her gems, a review of a really awful film, it's like finding a diamond on the beach. I'm reminded of her review of "The Trial of Billy Jack" and how it left me limp from laughing.
I encourage you to read the entire reviews, Red, in chronological order (if you haven't already done so). All of her reviews are in collections. 5001 Nights at the Movies directs you to which collection the longer version appears. About once a year I'd read all her reviews, in chronological order. In between, I'd read 5001 Nights, from A to Z. Together they are an incomparable history (and invaluable resource) of modern filmmaking.
Okay Stevie: here's the deal:
Because of my Cary Grant obsession, I of course have read many excerpts from the famous Pauline Kael profile - everyone quotes it. I have Googled it to death and cannot find it online.
WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
Any ideas??
She seems to really GET his mystique, and what it was about him. She only gave him a bad review once, and that was in The Howards of Virginia - but she said it wasn't his fault. She always praised him.
Posted by: red at April 22, 2005 2:36 PMOkay, it's called "The Man from Dream City" and it was written in 1975. It's in her collection "When the Lights Go Down" and it was included in her greatest hits book "For Keeps."
P.S. - if you find them somewhere, I'll get them for you :)
Posted by: Stevie at April 22, 2005 2:50 PMStevie -
swear to God, you have to come to NYC someday. And we have to hang out. You're awesome. Googling the books right now ...
Posted by: red at April 22, 2005 2:55 PMThat would be so damned fun!
Posted by: Stevie at April 22, 2005 2:57 PMI just found "When the Lights Go Down" on ebay - shall I go for it?
Posted by: Stevie at April 22, 2005 3:04 PMI've been having trouble finding it - it's not on Amazon. How much is it?
Posted by: red at April 22, 2005 3:05 PM9.99 - and it's my treat!
Posted by: Stevie at April 22, 2005 3:33 PMAll right. Go for it. I'll pay you back.
I need to read that Cary Grant piece - it sounds so amazing!!
Thanks, Stevie. :)
Posted by: red at April 22, 2005 3:35 PMOkay! No sweat - and I'll pay for it (it's my pleasure to introduce you to it). The auction ends in 6 days - - -
Posted by: Stevie at April 22, 2005 4:25 PMI haven't seen it either, but Christina of Sweden is such an interesting historical figure that it would take a lot of work to make a bad movie about her...which this certainly sounds like. Her father, Gustavus Adoplphus, never got the male heir he wanted, and so he essentially raised her as a prince: statecraft, horseback riding (not sidesaddle), swordplay, etc., and she customarily wore trousers. All this in the 17th century, mind you.
Posted by: Dave J at April 22, 2005 7:04 PMWell, Greta Garbo portrayed her brilliantly in the beautiful film of the same name in 1933. Classic.
Posted by: red at April 22, 2005 8:21 PMI was sure there was a better movie about her, starring, if not Garbo, then someone of the same era at least.
Posted by: Dave J at April 22, 2005 11:16 PM