1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Film lovers seeking critical guidance more discerning than daily newspaper reviews but less daunting than scholarly journal articles depend on a handful of critics who write about rarefied films for a general audience.1001 Movies You Must See before You Dieputs a user-friendly mask on the serious thought animating its effort to create a roster of indispensable films and rather belies the erudition of its well-qualified contributors. The chosen 1,001 are chronologically listed, from the surreal sf shortA Trip to the Moon(1902) toRussian Arkandchicago(both 2002). This list has been compiled with an eye to historical importance and popular acclaim, which explains the presence of such critically suspect crowd-pleasers asSaturday Night Fever, Top Gun, andE.T. Since Chantal Akerman's nearly four-hourJeanne Dielmanand the Czech psychedelic farceSedmikrasky (Daisies)also appear, it can't, however, be accused of pandering to popular taste. Attractive design, incorporating stills from most chosen titles, makes the volume a browser's delight as well as a useful guide for casual viewers and film buffs alike.Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved