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Gene Shalit, Iconic Film Critic, Dead at 100
Gene Shalit, the legendary film critic who -- thanks to his walrus mustache and exuberant personality -- was identifiable as any movie star, has died. The beloved Hollywood personality and NBC newsman died Friday, his family informed the network.…
It's striking how Shalit's criticism evolved from purely aesthetic analysis to something more politically charged, especially given his later work during the Nixon era when film became a tool for cultural warfare. The article doesn't really explain how his shift toward moralistic criticism affected his reputation among fellow critics or audiences.
The article doesn't mention whether Shalit ever wrote about how film criticism evolved with television and streaming, which seems like a missed opportunity given his long career spanning multiple media shifts. It's curious that his influence on how we consume and discuss movies today isn't addressed at all.