A master film critic is at her witty, exhilarating, and opinionated best in this career-spanning collection featuring pieces on Bonnie and Clyde, The Godfather, and other modern movie classics “Film criticism is exciting just because there is no formula to apply,” Pauline Kael once observed, “just because you must use everything you are and everything you know.” Between 1968 and 1991, as regular film reviewer for The New Yorker, Kael used those formidable tools to shape the tastes of a generation. She had a gift for capturing, with force and fluency, the essence of an actor’s gesture or the full implication of a cinematic image. Kael called movies “the most total and encompassing art form we have,” and her reviews became a platform for considering both film and the worlds it engages, crafting in the process a prose style of extraordinary wit, precision, and improvisatory grace. Her ability to evoke the essence of a great artist—an Orson Welles or a Robert Altman—or to celebrate the way even seeming trash could tap deeply into our emotions was matched by her unwavering eye for the scams and self-deceptions of a corrupt movie industry. Here are her appraisals of era-defining films such as Breathless, Bonnie and Clyde, The Leopard, The Godfather, Last Tango in Paris, Nashville, along with many others, some awaiting rediscovery—all providing the occasion for masterpieces of observation and insight, alive on every page.
“A smart and eminently readable examination of the life and career of one of the twentieth century’s most influential movie critics.”—Los Angeles Times “Engrossing and thoroughly researched.”—Entertainment Weekly • A New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2011 • The first major biography of the most influential, powerful, and controversial film critic of the twentieth century Pauline Kael was, in the words of Entertainment Weekly's movie reviewer Owen Gleiberman, "the Elvis or Beatles of film criticism." During her tenure at The New Yorker from 1968 to 1991, she was the most widely read and, often enough, the most provocative critic in America. In this first full-length biography of the legend who changed the face of film criticism, acclaimed author Brian Kellow (author of Can I Go Now?: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood's First Superagent) gives readers a richly detailed view of Kael's remarkable life—from her youth in rural California to her early struggles to establish her writing career to her peak years at The New Yorker.
The intelligent person's guide to the movies, with more than 2,800 reviews Look up a movie in this guide, and chances are you'll find yourself reading on about the next movie and the next. Pauline Kael's reviews aren't just provocative---they're addictive. These brief, informative reviews, written for the "Goings On About Town" section of The New Yorker, provide an immense range of listings---a masterly critical history of American and foreign film. This is probably the only movie guide you'll want to read for the sheer pleasure of it.
From the author of the On the Line and Fire on Ice hockey romance series comes a sultry standalone novel featuring a brooding NHL player who’s hell on skates—and the no-nonsense woman who forces him to clean up his act. Miranda: Even though I’m broke, putting myself through college, and working two jobs, I’m trying to make the best of it. Meanwhile, Jake Birch, hockey’s hottest bad boy, lives in a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago—and still complains about every little thing in his penthouse. But after I tell him off, instead of getting me fired, Jake requests me as his personal housekeeper. Then he starts flirting with me. Only I’m not flirting back . . . at least, I’m trying not to. Did I mention that he’s hockey’s hottest bad boy? Jake: I’ve met the best woman at the worst possible time. Miranda is the fire to my ice—a sexy, charmingly candid spark who breaks down my walls and reminds me what it’s like to feel again. But I’m being forced to date my team owner’s daughter to keep my job, so I can’t be caught with Miranda. Still, we’re getting closer—until Miranda finds out about my “girlfriend.” And that’s not the only secret I’ve been keeping. But Miranda’s the one I want . . . even if she doesn’t believe me. Praise for Hooked “I loved this book, an awesome romance with some chuckles and a little sexiness. I will definitely be checking out other books by Brenda [Rothert] and I absolutely recommend this book.”—BookSmacked (Five stars) “A sexy, heartwarming tale, that I truly enjoyed. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys sports romance or really contemporary romance in general.”—Where the Night Kind Roam “Sexy, sweet and totally had me swooning. Prepare to get Hooked.”—New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett “Hooked is sexy, sweet, and full of steam! Jake is pure alpha male and a hockey bad boy. But he steams up the pages with Miranda, a sassy, independent housekeeper. My favorite Brenda Rothert book yet! A total must-read.”—USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss “The heroine is strong and sassy while the hero is impossible not to love. I laughed out loud several times at cute banter and clever lines. I’d recommend a one-click without hesitation!”—New York Times bestselling author S.E. Hall “Hooked is a sweet, steamy and romantic story with characters you’ll fall in love with.”—USA Today bestselling author Kelly Jamieson “Brenda Rothert writes a sweet, compelling hockey romance about a bad-tempered hockey player. I enjoyed this emotional story.”—Cocktails & Books “Brenda Rothert did a wonderful job with this story. It’s a nice read that I enjoyed 100%!”—Cristiina Reads “Hooked is everything that I’ve come to expect from one of Brenda [Rothert’s] books, and more.”—Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews “What a sweet story . . . the banter, the love scenes and the sweet touching moments. It is such an easy and enjoyable read.”—Read-Love-Blog “Bravo to Brenda! I cannot wait to read more of her books!”—Kelly’s Book Blog “I loved both characters as they battled through all the hurdles to finding their HEA. . . . I thoroughly enjoyed Hooked.”—Books & Boys Book Blog Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
