Rex Reed

Rex Reed is a man who writes about movies.

He grew up in the South. Then he moved to New York City. He writes for many papers and magazines. He also writes his own books.

Rex has a very blunt style. This means he says exactly what he thinks. Sometimes his words are mean to actors. He also makes mistakes in his writing.

He has worked in many ways. He worked at a big movie company. He was a judge on a TV show. He even acted in some films.

Rex has many big ideas. He shares them with the world. He tells us if he likes a film or not.

Rex Reed is a man who writes about movies and art.

He was born in Texas in 1938. He grew up in the American South. Later, he moved to New York City. He studied journalism at Louisiana State University. He wanted to be an actor. Instead, he got a job at a big movie company. He wrote about stars like Elvis Presley. Later, he became a famous film critic.

Rex has a very blunt style. He says exactly what he thinks. This can make people upset. He has been mean to some actors in his writing. He once said that Frank Sinatra was a messy singer. He also made a claim about Marisa Tomei winning an Oscar. He thought the wrong name was read. Other people said he was wrong. Some people think his writing can be unkind.

Rex has done many jobs. He has written eight books. He has acted in films like Superman. He was also a judge on a TV show called The Gong Show. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He still writes his "Talk of the Town" column for a paper in New York.

Rex Reed is a well-known American film critic and journalist.

He also works as an actor and a media personality. People know him for his very blunt way of writing. He often shares opinions that go against what others think. This is called being a contrarian. Because of this, his work can sometimes cause a lot of debate. Some people have criticized him for making factual errors. Others have said his remarks about actors can be quite harsh. Even so, he remains a famous figure in the world of art and culture.

Reed's career has taken many different paths over the years. He first moved to New York City in the early 1960s. At first, he hoped to find success as an actor. Instead, he worked in the publicity department at 20th Century Fox. He wrote pieces about famous stars like Elvis Presley. Later, he became a music critic for HiFi/Stereo Review. He eventually became a very busy film critic. He wrote for many famous names like Vogue and The New York Times. He also spent thirteen years as an arts critic for the New York Daily News.

His life began in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 2, 1938. His father, James M. Reed, was a supervisor for an oil company. Because of his father's job, the family moved often through the American South. Reed went to Louisiana State University to study journalism. He earned his degree there in 1960. While in college, he started writing reviews for the school newspaper. He also wrote for a newspaper in Baton Rouge called The Morning Advocate. These early steps helped him prepare for his big career in New York.

Reed has many interesting facts and achievements in his long life. He has written eight different books. Some of his book titles include People Are Crazy Here and Valentines & Vitriol. He has also appeared in movies like Superman in 1978. He was a regular judge on a TV game show called The Gong Show. In 1971, he served on a jury for the Berlin International Film Festival. He also worked at the Venice International Film Festival in 1972. He currently writes a column called "Talk of the Town" for The New York Observer.

Today, his work connects to how we talk about movies online. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He is also part of the New York Film Critics Online. His reviews are often found on the internet for everyone to read. This means his opinions can reach many people very quickly. While some people enjoy his direct style, others find it controversial. His career shows how much impact a single critic can have on the world of entertainment. He continues to be a person people watch and listen to closely.

Rex Taylor Reed is a prominent American film critic, journalist, and media personality.

Born on October 2, 1938, he has built a long career exploring popular culture and the arts. He is widely recognized for his blunt writing style and his contrarian views. A contrarian is someone who takes an opposing position to the majority. This approach often makes his work a subject of intense public debate. While some value his directness, others criticize him for making disparaging remarks or factual errors.

Reed's professional journey began with a move to New York City in the early 1960s. He originally moved to the city to pursue a career as an actor. However, he found employment in the publicity department at 20th Century Fox. In this role, he wrote promotional materials for major stars like Elvis Presley. His time there ended when the film Cleopatra caused financial difficulties for the company. Because he was a low-salaried employee making $75, he was among the first to be fired. This setback led him toward the path of professional criticism.

His career as a critic spans many prestigious publications and roles. He served as a music critic for HiFi/Stereo Review from 1966 until 1973. Later, he became a significant voice in film criticism for several major outlets. He worked as an arts critic for the New York Daily News for thirteen years. He also spent five years as a film critic for the New York Post. His expertise was recognized internationally when he served on juries for major film festivals. He participated in the 21st Berlin International Film Festival in 1971 and the 33rd Venice International Film Festival in 1972.

Reed's writing often focuses on the performance and character of celebrities. He is known for making very strong, sometimes harsh, judgments about public figures. In 1974, he wrote a famously sharp review of singer Frank Sinatra at Madison Square Garden. He criticized Sinatra's appearance and vocal abilities, claiming his voice had become a "parched croak." He also faced backlash for his comments regarding actress Marlee Matlin after her 1986 Academy Award win. He suggested her victory was a "pity vote" because she is deaf. These moments highlight how his opinions can spark widespread controversy.

Some of Reed's most debated moments involve conspiracy theories and personal insults. In 1992, he claimed Marisa Tomei did not actually win her Oscar for My Cousin Vinny. He suggested the presenter, Jack Palance, had read the wrong name by mistake. This claim was publicly rebutted by the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. He also faced criticism for his 2013 review of the film Identity Thief. In that review, he used several insulting terms to describe actress Melissa McCarthy's weight. Such comments led other critics to describe his style as mean-spirited name-calling.

Beyond criticism, Reed has maintained a presence in various forms of media. He has authored eight books, including titles like People Are Crazy Here and Valentines & Vitriol. His acting credits include roles in films such as Superman in 1978 and Inchon in 1981. He also appeared as a regular judge on the television game show The Gong Show. In the digital age, he remains active through the internet. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle and New York Film Critics Online. This allows his reviews to reach a global audience instantly.

Reed's life and career reflect the evolving nature of media and celebrity culture. His transition from a studio publicity worker to a major critic shows the many layers of the entertainment industry. His work connects to broader discussions about the ethics of criticism and the impact of online forums. Even when his reviews are criticized for being inaccurate, they continue to generate conversation. His long tenure in New York City demonstrates his lasting influence on how we perceive art and fame. He continues to be a significant, if polarizing, figure in American journalism.