Rex Reed

Rex Taylor Reed (born October 2, 1938) is an American film critic and former co-host of the syndicated television show "At the Movies". He currently writes the column "On the Town with Rex Reed" for the "New York Observer".

Life & work

Reed was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jimmie M. Reed and Jewell Smith. His work is dismissed as superficial by some critics, while others consider him an important writer in the style of New Journalism. ["Rex Reed". "Contemporary Authors Online", Gale, 2006. Reproduced in "Biography Resource Center". Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2006] He is the author of a number of books, including the novel "Personal Effects," "Do You Sleep in the Nude?" (1968), "People are Crazy Here" (1970), and "Rex Reed's Guide to Movies on TV and Video" (1992).

He has also acted occasionally, as in the movie version of Gore Vidal's "Myra Breckinridge." During its filming he was a frequent talk-show guest, often making fun of the production, leaving it unclear whether he was trying to help or hurt its box-office performance.Fact|date=April 2008 Reed has also appeared in the films "Inchon!" and "Superman". Reed was also a regular on the TV show "The Gong Show" in the late '70s. He got his biggest public visibility, however, when his syndicated column took on Frank Sinatra when he appeared at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1974.Fact|date=April 2008 Reed decried Sinatra as arrogant, vocally washed-up and sloppily dressed, and suggested the middle-aged female fans shown on camera should have been "home making meat loaf." From then on, and lasting a few years, Sinatra blasted Reed, and in particular Reed's supposed homosexuality, in his many concert appearances. Unfazed, Reed countered that it only proved how out-of-date Sinatra was.

Reed is also good friends with gossip columnist Liz Smith. [Tribune Media Services via "Buffalo News", June 9, 2006]

He lives at the famed Dakota apartment building, in New York City. [ [http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0813,chapter-27,389154,20.html village voice > film > Chapter 27: Chapter 27 by ED GONZALEZ ] ]

Controversies

Arrest

In February 2000, Reed was arrested for shoplifting after leaving a Tower Records, in Manhattan, with CDs by Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee, and Carmen McRae in his jacket pockets. Reed, who had just purchased two other CDs, says he forgot about the other 3 CDs and his offer to pay for them was refused. ["Rex Reed blames his arrest on fever of forgetfulness", "USA Today", February 17, 2000] The charges were later dropped.

"Oldboy" review

In a 2005 review of the South Korean movie "Oldboy", Reed wrote: "What else can you expect from a nation weaned on kimchi, a mixture of raw garlic and cabbage buried underground until it rots, dug up from the grave and then served in earthenware pots sold at the Seoul airport as souvenirs?" The review was mocked and criticized by the "Village Voice" and others. [ [http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0515,jumpcuts,62915,20.html "Rex is Comedy"] ,Village Voice, April 19, 2005]

References

External links

* [http://www.observer.com/author/rex-reed Rex Reed's "New York Observer" movie review archive]
* [http://www.nyfcc.com/members.php?member=22 New York Film Critics Circle biography]
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