For Kids of All Ages

October 14, 2019
Film critic Keough presents a splendid group of essays from fellow reviewers in celebration of children’s cinema. Parents seeking viewing suggestions will find plenty, but the focus is on learning to view movies critically, as in Ebert’s description of his grandchildren’s first viewing of E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial. More than a doting grandfather’s story, it illustrates how even young children can intuitively understand a filmmaker’s stylistic choices. Essays about the authors’ own formative film experiences have an irresistible earnestness. Critic James Verniere’s fascination with The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and its Ray Harryhausen special effects led him into his school’s library in search of books about Sinbad, and later, into a film reviewing career. Keough’s connection to Old Yeller is a memorable if heartbreaking story revealing how films can resonate with significant events (such as a pet’s death) in one’s life. Each selection is a gem, particularly Carrie Rickey’s on Little Women’s many adaptations. Glancing at the contributor list gives the only reason for pause: out of 28, only four are women. Otherwise, Keough has assembled an admirable collection that cinephiles will want to read straight through as they embrace a “wondrous immersion into another world.”

Starred review from November 1, 2019

These lovingly curated essays and reviews cover a range of films, from those that have entertained children to ones that evoke a childlike sense of wonder to those that explore childhood, including its downsides. Children are centered in the Lumière brothers' 50-second-long Querelle enfantine (1896), while a missing child powers the soul-crushing Loveless (2017). Using this broader application of "children's movies," Keough (Kathryn Bigelow: Interviews) compiles newly commissioned and previously published pieces from members of the National Society of Film Critics. Organized by topics that include animation and book adaptations, the chapters each include a thoughtful introduction from Keough. Each movie, even if mentioned only in passing, is listed in an appendix, along with its MPAA rating and content advisory. While an anthology of essays by film critics might sound like dry reading, this engaging volume is anything but. The book is designed to overwhelm one's hold list, and the writing is potent, passionate, and personal. Roger Ebert's letter to his grandchildren after watching E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) with them reminds readers of the power of cinema and the importance of make-believe. VERDICT This compelling meditation on cinematic representations of childhood is a must for film buffs.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

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