I never knew pauline but was in her presence twice, first at. But i tend to agree more with film critic pauline kael, who took the. Aug, 2019 schrader identifies the samef feelings of alienation and apathy experienced with such unmoored intensity by bickle as his motivation for writing taxi driver. She states the story line is the most gloriously redundant plot of all time abrahams 223, insisting that no point is made in the movie. Pauline kael is most likely the most significant name in film criticism from the past 50 years or so. Of course, if you know anything about taxi driver, youre probably aware this wasnt the only assassination attempt connected to the movie. Schrader identifies the samef feelings of alienation and apathy experienced with such unmoored intensity by bickle as his motivation for writing taxi driver. And pauline kael has described a scene where the camera moves away from bickle. Posted on may 10, 2016 may 10, 2016 by rollyn stafford. I sent her the script of taxi driver and had dinner with her and brian.
A space odyssey as a big waste of sets and equipment with no sense of structure. Tarantino shares his thoughts about the 1976 martin scorsese film, taxi driver. And pauline kael has described a scene where the camera moves away from bickle on a pay phone to an empty hallway as an. Paul schrader was 26 and destitute when he wrote taxi driver. Jun 09, 2016 its uncertain, but according to taxi driver coproducer julia phillips, he would often pop ludes and drink dom perignon in the cutting room. Pauline, in that passionate, bullying voice, would. Pauline kael has awarded high ratings to the godfather. Pauline kael called the movie one of the few truly modern horror films. In a field that embraced few female critics, kael was charismatic, controversial, witty and discerning.
This selection covers 19751979, and therefore some classic films which, as written about at the time, kael can be quite negative about famously she was not a fan of apocalypse now, network, all the presidents men and many others. Apr 21, 2007 paul schrader interviewed by john gallagher on his new movie cat people 1982, as well as martin scorseses taxi driver 1976 and raging bull 1980. However brilliant the film is, taxi driver remains a constant reminder of some of the darkest times schrader has experienced. The movie rarely strays very far from the personal. Taxi driver is the fevered story of an outsider in new yorka man who cant find any point of entry into human society. Pauline kael, provocative and widely imitated new yorker. Rober ebert ferociously powerful the whole movie has a sense of vertigo. But it couldnt have been made about any other critic the. In celebration of what would have been pauline kaels 100th birthday and. Given that taxi driver remains schraders bestknown script, plenty of other. Pauline kael, who expressed her passion for movies in jaunty, jazzy prose as the longtime film critic for the new yorker, died yesterday at her home in great barrington, mass. Pauline kael gets the last word in what she said truthdig. Pauline kael taxi driver synthesized noir, neorealist, and new wave stylistics.
Paul schrader interviewed by john gallagher on his new movie cat people 1982, as well as martin scorseses taxi driver 1976 and raging bull 1980. In july of 1984, six months after id become the thirdstring film critic at the village voice, pauline kael introduced herself in a movie line and said nice things about my work, and within a. The art of pauline kael had been made about any other film critic, i believe kael would have enjoyed it. But i tend to agree more with film critic pauline kael, who took the ending to be true and thus, a real slap in the face for a viewer looking for a sense of justice. There is nothing to do but talk, about a topic which torments two of the wayfarers, who have just been witnesses in a police court inquiry. Remembering pauline kael, the legendary film critic. Once they know shes seen it and she starts talking about it, this is going to. In a field that has historically embraced few women film critics, kael was controversial, witty, and fiercely discerning. Pauline kael taxi driver synthesized noir, neorealist, and new wave. A berkeley dropout and single mother, kael began writing about film in the early 1950s. It was the time of bonnie and clyde 1967, the godfather 1972, nashville 1975, and taxi driver 1976, and kael praised those pictures innovations at length. The new yorkers film critic pauline kael 19192001, often considered the most influential of all time, battled to make her markfueled by brilliance, unshakable selfconfidence, a complicated past, and a deep love of the arts. The traumatic tale of how paul schrader wrote taxi driver. Just look at his take on scorseses taxi driver, and compare it to anything that kael wrote.
Nov 07, 2017 tarantino shares his thoughts about the 1976 martin scorsese film, taxi driver. Taxi driver is the fevered story of an outsider in new yorka man. A notorious bandit, tajomaru, was later found riding the dead mans horse. But while taxi driver is a cinematic masterpiece thats just as relevant today as it was over 40 years ago, the ending of the film has sparked quite a bit of debate. Three men seek shelter from the rain under the ruined gate of the ancient city of kyoto. June 19, 1919 september 3, 2001 was an american film critic who wrote for the new yorker magazine from 1968 to 1991. The art of pauline kael directed and edited by rob garver wednesday, december 25 tuesday, january 7 12.
Sure all things many people knew already, but for some reason didnt resonate with me the first time. Taxi driver the underground man buy study guide with his short existentialist novel notes from underground, russian novelist fyodor dostoevsky created a prototype for a new kind of protagonist that would arise in the latter part of the 20th century and usher in what many label a new phase of modernism. Quad cinema celebrates pauline kael with losing it at the. Documentary on midcentury film critic pauline kael, what she said. The result was a black and white cinematic masterpiece with. When film critic pauline kael asked him about the inspiration for travis, he replied. Perhaps film critic pauline kael said it best when she wrote, its a real slap for us when see travis at the end looking pacified. The art of pauline kael, accompanied by seven of her favorites, including five on 35mm. He told pauline kael, the inspiration for the script was deeply personal. Part ii 1974, goodfellas 1990, taxi driver 1976, planet of the apes 1968 and citizen kane 1941. The man is travis bickle, exmarine, veteran of vietnam, composer of dutiful anniversary notes to his parents, taxi driver, killer. Paul schrader interview part 1 of 3 taxi driver youtube. She is so influential that even people who dont know her probably use a lot of her writing style in their film criticism.
In just a few short sentences, eberts first paragraph gets into bickles psychology as well as the tenor of the films tricks, while the ending is a great poetic take on both. Pauline kael, provocative and widely imitated new yorker film. Its a miracle that he didnt grow themhe grew everything else. Oct 05, 2018 having spent time as the protege of acclaimed new yorker film critic pauline kael, schrader had enjoyed his major breakthrough. In a field that has historically embraced few women film critics, kael was charismatic, controversial, witty, and discerning. Travis bickle is me, he has said in multiple interviews in a somewhat startling. On march 30, 1981, president ronald reagan was leaving the washington hilton when a deranged twentyfive. Drama 1 min, rated r, color, available on videocassette and laserdisc. Jul 30, 2018 but i tend to agree more with film critic pauline kael, who took the ending to be true and thus, a real slap in the face for a viewer looking for a sense of justice. Sep 04, 2001 pauline kael, who expressed her passion for movies in jaunty, jazzy prose as the longtime film critic for the new yorker, died yesterday at her home in great barrington, mass. She was one of the most influential american film critics of her era. Her turbocharged prose famously championed the new hollywood cinema of the late 1960s and 70s bonnie and clyde, nashville, carrie, taxi driver and the work of major european directors francois truffaut, bernardo bertolucci, while mercilessly panning some of the biggest studio hits the sound of music, midnight cowboy, dirty harry. Spielberg recalls that scorsese, after being told to recut the film, pointed a finger at stanley jaffe and said, hes the head of the studio hes the guy im angry at, so im gonna get.
Pauline kael and arranging a screening for her to see it, i think in chicago, and i said to marty, send the picture and let kael look at it. This is probably the only movie guide youll want to read for the sheer pleasure. Taxi driver is a favorite of movie lovers, casual movie fans, and crazy people the story of a guy who wants to eliminate all the scum from the city, and embarks on a scheme of violent selfdevelopment, naturally is going to appeal to a fair amount of troubled peoplelike john hinckley jr. Pauline kael wrote for the new yorker from 1967 until her retirement. How is taxi driver connected to two assassination attempts.