december 23, 2019–january 5, 2020 | new york 89
MOVIES- (^) See What She Said
A critical legacy.
Film Forum, through January 7.
It’s hard to think that during the heroic age of film
criticism—mid-1960s through the late 1970s—it
wasn’t just readers who paid attention to critics;
filmmakers did, too. And Pauline Kael was prob-
ably the most important of these writers, raising
criticism itself to the level of an art form. Rob
Garver’s documentary is an essential look at Kael’s
life, work, and influence, featuring interviews with
the filmmakers who idolized her as well as the col-
leagues and acolytes who knew her well (including
New York’s David Edelstein).
BOOKS - & 24. (^) Read Boys & Sex
and See Pegg y Orenstein
Inner lives.
The Strand, January 8.
In her latest book, the author of Girls & Sex
returns to the intimate lives of young people, this
time focusing on the titular subject of boys and
sex. See Peggy Orenstein in conversation with New
York’s Rebecca Traister at the Strand.
THEATER - (^) Hear Is This a Room
Another little dose of reality.
Vineyard Theatre,
through January 19.
After showing up on a whole host of year-end best-
of lists (including ours), Is This a Room returns for
an encore presentation. Tina Satter’s show is cen-
tered on the FBI transcript of NSA whistleblower
Reality Winner’s interrogation. That might sound
a little dry and wonky, but the experience—thanks
to a vivid performance by Emily Davis and some
tip-top FBI bumbling—is actually hilarious and
searing at once. h.s.
GLOBAL SPONSOR
Including 2 PM Weekday Matinees
nycballet.com or 212-496-0600
NOW through JANUARY 5
THE 60-SECOND BOOK EXCERPT
Long Bright River
By Liz Moore
“there’s a body on the Guerney
Street tracks. Female, age unclear, prob-
ably overdose, says the dispatcher. Kacey,
I think. This is a twitch, a reflex, some-
thing sharp and subconscious that lives
inside me and sends the same message
racing to the same base part of my brain
every time a female is reported. Then the
more rational part of me comes plodding
along, lethargic, uninspired, a dutiful dull
soldier here to remind me about odds and
statistics: nine hundred overdose victims
in Kensington last year. Not one of them
Kacey. Furthermore, the sentry reproves
me, you seem to have forgotten the impor-
tance of being a professional. Straighten
your shoulders. Smile a little. Keep your
face relaxed, your eyebrows furrowed,
your chin untucked. Do your job.”
(Riverhead Books, January 7)
71st & Lexington
New York, NY 10021
212.737.2859
- 9200
frenchsoleshoes.com
French made style "Heros" in Suede!
Regular $150
Now $ 79
ADVANCED FORM
TRANSMITTED
Y DD AD PD EIC ____ COPY DD AD PD EIC
2619CR_ToDo_lay [Print]_36396271.indd 89 12/16/19 2:21 PM
december23,2019–january5, 2020 | newyork 89
MOVIES
- 9200
- (^) See What She Said
A critical legacy.
Film Forum, through January 7.
It’s hard to think that during the heroic age of film
criticism—mid-1960s through the late 1970s—it
wasn’t just readers who paid attention to critics;
filmmakers did, too. And Pauline Kael was prob-
ably the most important of these writers, raising
criticism itself to the level of an art form. Rob
Garver’s documentary is an essential look at Kael’s
life, work, and influence, featuring interviewswith
the filmmakers who idolized her as well asthecol-
leagues and acolytes who knew her well (including
New York’s David Edelstein).
BOOKS - & 24. (^) Read Boys & Sex
and See Pegg y Orenstein
Inner lives.
The Strand, January 8.
In her latest book, the author of Girls&Sex
returns to the intimate lives of young people,this
time focusing on the titular subject of boysand
sex. See Peggy Orenstein in conversation withNew
York’s Rebecca Traister at the Strand.
THEATER - (^) Hear Is This a Room
Another little dose of reality.
Vineyard Theatre,
through January 19.
After showing up on a whole host of year-endbest-
of lists (including ours), Is This a Room returnsfor
an encore presentation. Tina Satter’s showis cen-
tered on the FBI transcript of NSA whistleblower
Reality Winner’s interrogation. That mightsound
a little dry and wonky, but the experience—thanks
to a vivid performance by Emily Davis andsome
tip-top FBI bumbling—is actually hilariousand
searing at once. h.s.
GLOBAL SPONSOR
Including 2 PM Weekday Matinees
nycballet.com or 212-496-0600
NOW through JANUARY 5
THE 60-SECOND BOOK EXCERPT
Long Bright River
By Liz Moore
“there’s a body on the Guerney
Street tracks. Female, age unclear, prob-
ably overdose, says the dispatcher. Kacey,
I think. This is a twitch, a reflex, some-
thing sharp and subconscious that lives
inside me and sends the same message
racing to the same base part of my brain
every time a female is reported. Then the
more rational part of me comes plodding
along,lethargic,uninspired,a dutiful dull
soldierheretoremindmeaboutodds and
statistics:ninehundredoverdosevictims
inKensingtonlast year. Notoneof them
Kacey. Furthermore,thesentry reproves
me,you seemto haveforgottentheimpor-
tanceofbeinga professional.Straighten
yourshoulders.Smilea little.Keep your
facerelaxed,youreyebrowsfurrowed,
yourchinuntucked.Doyourjob.”
(RiverheadBooks,January7)
71st& Lexington
New York, NY 10021
212.737.2859
2124729200
frenchsoleshoes.com
French made style "Heros" in Suede!
Regular$150
Now 79