Love and hisses

the long version

This collection presents differing opinions of top American critics on selected films, with reviews situated back to back. For instance, Richard Schickel loved almost everything about Terms of Endearment (1983), while Pauline Kael liked only Shirley MacLaine's lead performance. Critics included are all members of the National Society of Film Critics, and the films were chosen because, according to editor Peter Rainer, they "define the ways these writers approach both movies and criticism." The reviews are all reprints, which Rainer cites as a benefit, since they were written without any intention of debate. Yet, the scope of this book is vague. There is an overwhelming emphasis on recent films, yet several from the 1970s are included. Nearly every well-known reviewer of the last 30 years is represented.-- Library Journal review.