A. O. Scott

A.O. Scott is a writer. He writes about movies and books. He works for a big paper called The New York Times.

He grew up in a family of teachers. When he was fifteen, he lived in Paris. He went to small movie theaters there. This helped him love films.

He wants to help people find new movies. He likes to take chances on films. He thinks movies can show us new worlds.

He also taught at a college. Now, he writes about books. He still loves to watch movies.

A.O. Scott is a famous writer. He writes about movies and books. He works for The New York Times. He was born in 1966 in Massachusetts. His parents were both professors.

When Scott was fifteen, he lived in Paris. He spent his afternoons in small movie theaters. This time in France helped him love films. He later went to Harvard. He studied literature there.

Scott became a chief film critic in 2004. He wants to help people find great movies. He likes to take chances on new films. He thinks movies can show us new worlds. He also thinks they can show us truths about our own world. He once taught film at Wesleyan University.

In 2023, he began a new job. Now he writes for The New York Times Book Review. He still loves the magic of the movies. He loves the way a dark theater feels. He loves the surprise of a good story. Even when movies are bad, he still enjoys watching them.

A.O. Scott is a well-known American journalist and cultural critic. He spends his time writing about movies and books to help people understand them. People often look to his work to discover new stories. He has worked for many famous places like The New York Review of Books and Slate. For a long time, he was a very important voice at The New York Times. In 2004, he became a chief film critic there. He shared this big role with another critic named Manohla Dargis.

Scott's love for movies started when he was a teenager. When he was fifteen, he lived in Paris, France. His mother had a job there for a few months. During the afternoons, Scott visited small, independent movie theaters. He would often wander in off the street just to watch films. These theaters showed many old American movies. This time in Paris helped him find his path toward film criticism. He later studied literature at Harvard University and graduated in 1988.

As a critic, Scott has a special way of working. He wants to connect movies with the people who watch them. He believes moviegoing is about taking chances on new things. He likes to suggest films that readers might not think they would enjoy. He has even written books about his ideas, like Better Living Through Criticism. Scott also hosted video podcasts and appeared on television shows. He once served as a guest critic on the show Ebert & Roeper.

Scott has seen many different kinds of films throughout his career. He joined the film industry during a very exciting time in the late 1990s. He noticed a "boom" of independent filmmakers during those years. He has watched many famous directors like Quentin Tarantino and Todd Haynes. Scott has also shared his opinions on many different things. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2010. He even taught film criticism as a professor at Wesleyan University.

Even though his job has changed, his love for stories remains. In 2023, he moved to a new role at The New York Times Book Review. He still thinks movies are magical and powerful. He loves how a dark theater feels right before a story begins. He enjoys the way movies can make people feel big emotions. Even when a movie is not good, he still finds value in watching it. He believes movies can show us new worlds and truths.

A.O. Scott is a prominent American journalist and cultural critic. He specializes in analyzing films and literature to help audiences understand them. For many years, he served as a leading voice at The New York Times. He held the position of chief film critic starting in 2004. He shared this major responsibility with critic Manohla Dargis. His work focuses on connecting cinematic art with the public. He aims to encourage viewers to take chances on new films.

Scott's interest in cinema began during a formative period in his youth. At age 15, he lived in Paris, France, with his mother. While she worked, he spent his afternoons exploring the city. He frequented small, independent movie theaters located across the Left Bank. These venues often screened classic American films. This solitary time in Paris helped shape his future career. He later attended Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude in 1988 with a degree in literature.

His professional career involved several prestigious publications. He began as an assistant at The New York Review of Books. Later, he worked as a book critic for Newsday. He also contributed to Slate and wrote television reviews for Variety. In 1993, he used the name Tony Scott for his television work. He joined The New York Times Arts section in January 2000. This followed the retirement of longtime critic Janet Maslin.

Scott entered the film industry during a period of significant growth. He notes that the late 1990s were a "high point" for the industry. This era featured an "indie boom" of independent American filmmakers. Notable directors from this time include Quentin Tarantino and Todd Haynes. Other influential figures include Lisa Cholodenko, Julie Dash, and Cheryl Dunye. Scott saw this movement as a sign of maturing, socially conscious filmmaking. He cites films like Three Kings and Magnolia as examples of this era.

Throughout his tenure, Scott engaged with audiences through various media. He participated in the video podcast titled Critics' Picks. He also appeared on television programs like Charlie Rose and Ebert & Roeper. Between 2002 and 2014, he made 15 appearances on Charlie Rose. In 2009, he co-hosted the show At the Movies. His professional excellence earned him recognition as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2010. He also taught film criticism as a professor at Wesleyan University.

In recent years, Scott has transitioned into new areas of criticism. In 2020, he became a critic at large for The New York Times. This allowed him to write larger, cross-topic essays. In March 2023, he left his film criticism role entirely. He joined The New York Times Book Review to focus on literature. He noted that the connection between critics and audiences felt increasingly wide. This change marked a new chapter in his long journalistic career.

Scott maintains a deep respect for the emotional power of movies. He believes cinema can invent new worlds and reveal truths. He enjoys the sensory experience of the theater. This includes the anticipation in a dark room and the silence after a final shot. He has expressed admiration for the artistry of Studio Ghibli and Pixar. He also praised the Batman films and the Star Wars prequel, Revenge of the Sith. Even when movies fail, he finds value in the experience of watching them.