The X List: The National Society of Film Critics' Guide to the Movies That Turn Us On [Paperback]

Jami Bernard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2005

National Society of Film Critics dares to go where few mainstream critics have gone before-to the heart of what gets the colored lights going, as they say in A Streetcar Named Desire. Here is their take on the films that quicken their (and our) pulses-an enterprise both risky and risque, an entertaining overview of the most arousing films Hollywood has every produced. But make no mistake about it: This isn't a collection of esoteric "critic's choice" movies. The films reflect individual taste, rubbing against the grain of popular wisdom. And, because of the personal nature of the erotic forces at play, these essays will reveal more about the individual critics than perhaps they have revealed thus far to their readers. The Society is a world-renowned, marquee-name organization embracing some of America's most distinguished critics, more than forty writers who have followings nationally as well as devoted local constituencies in such major cities as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.Yes, The X List will have something for every lover of film-and for every lover.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

New York Daily News critic Bernard has selected arousing movies varying wildly in quality, from the classic romantic noir Laura to the grotesque Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. What makes the book stimulating is the uniform cleverness of the writing. Jay Carr brings the soft, sensual vividness of The Fabulous Baker Boys to life, noting, "It's an after-hours nocturne of dead-solid serendipity"; Bernard characterizes Gilda as a "coyly sadistic exercise where sex is a weapon that's constantly being unsheathed." There's loose, tongue-in-cheek humor from Rob Nelson in his review of Eyes Wide Shut (he describes Stanley Kubrick as "one seriously perverse dude"). J. Hoberman's witty pan of Basic Instinct is delightful, and Liza Schwarzbaum's enthusiasm for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid will create new excitement for the DVD. Best Picture Oscar winners (Rebecca), European classics (Belle du Jour), lightweight musicals (Bye Bye Birdie), thrillers (Klute) and love stories (The Long Hot Summer) are spotlighted, and fine film writers—Joe Morgenstern, Richard Schickel, Peter Travers, Michael Wilmington, Kevin Thomas and David Edelson—tackle them with aplomb. Aspiring critics and cinema fans should savor these essays. (Nov. 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Acknowledging the timeless appeal of eroticism, members of the National Society of Film Critics extol and explicate the movies they deem the most seductive. Their 80 choices include prestige films that depict sex explicitly (e.g., In the Realm of the Senses, Irreversible), steamy box-office smashes (e.g., Basic Instinct, Klute), Hollywood classics (Laura, Gilda), and porn flicks (Deep Throat, Behind the Green Door). A few critics fess up to early sexual awakening via such seemingly innocuous fare as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Hercules, or make surprising choices, such as The Mummy and the documentary Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life. Others sing the praises of sexual icons like Louise Brooks and Ann-Margret. Contributors include some of the best, if not best-known, critics (J. Hoberman, Stuart Klawans, Jonathan Rosenbaum) along with media heavyweight Roger Ebert, who offers a tribute to legendary soft-core director Russ Meyer. Because the selections represent so many genres and nations, the collection has going for it, besides its theme, a variety that most critical compilations lack. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (October 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306814455
• ISBN-13: 978-0306814457
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide to movies that turn us on, March 17, 2006

By 

D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The X List: The National Society of Film Critics' Guide to the Movies That Turn Us On (Paperback)

THE X LIST: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS' GUIDE TO THE MOVIES THAT TURN US ON is an outstanding guide for any movie buff: primarily those 'x' rated. There's a lot of fluff and junk in the soft-core porn industry, as any viewer of the genre might now: THE X LIST is thus more important to such viewers than your ordinary movie list, as X films typically are not much discussed in general circles. Chosen for feature are erotic movies which have 'changed, challenged, enhanced or perverted' America's take on eroticism. Listings aren't just one-paragraph descriptions: they go into quite some depth and critical detail on what makes the film notable or erotic.