Date of Defense

2010

Department

Communication

Abstract

My main inspiration for this collection of film reviews and essays was late film critic Pauline Kael. Probably the most widely known film critic pre-Ebert, the notorious Kael was one of the harshest, relentless writers American film criticism had ever seen. When she did not like a movie, she really did not like it, writing paragraph after paragraph of savage barbs and displaying a nasty wit unparalleled by anyone. For instance, her review of The Sound of Music, at that point the second highest grossing movie ever at the box office, was so harsh towards the beloved film she was actually fired from the magazine she wrote it for. But Kael was not simply a reactionary; she had the movie knowledge to back up any assertions she made.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Campus Only

Share

COinS