Nathan Rabin
Encyclopedia
Nathan Rabin neɪˈðɨn ʁɑːˈbiːn (born April 24, 1976) is an American film and music critic. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, Rabin was the first head writer for The A.V. Club
, a position he continues to hold today.
He coined the phrase manic pixie dream girl
as a cinematic type
. He was a panelist on the short-lived basic cable show "Movie Club with John Ridley
" on American Movie Classics. In 2007, he began "My Year of Flops" on The A.V. Club, where he re-evaluated films that were shunned by critics, ignored by audiences, or both, at their time of release. As of January 2008, the year was finished, but he continues the project as a bi-monthly feature. Other ongoing features Rabin writes for The A.V Club include Dispatches From Direct-To-DVD Purgatory, a tongue-in-cheek look at DVD premieres, Silly Little Show-Biz Book Club a humorous exploration of trashy books about entertainment and Ephemereview, which offers critiques of sub-reviewable pop-culture detritus.
Rabin released his memoir in 2009, The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought To You By Pop Culture, (2009, ISBN 1-4165-5621-3) which was published by Scribner
. The Washington Post
gave the book a negative review, calling it a "...failed project is brought to you by pop culture." while The New York Times
wrote, "[Rabin] has packed [The Big Rewind] like a cannon, full of caustic wit and bruised feelings" in its more positive review. The book uses novels such as The Great Gatsby
, musical recordings such as The Charm of the Highway Strip
by The Magnetic Fields
and other pop culture items as a springboard to discuss its author's tragi-comic adolescence as a guest of a mental hospital, a foster family whose patience and generosity he jokes "knew only strict, unyielding boundaries" and the Jewish Children's Bureau group home system as well as his career with The A.V. Club
and the short-lived film review show Movie Club With John Ridley
which he appeared on. The book ends with a chapter about Rabin's unsuccessful audition to fill in for Roger Ebert
as a guest critic on At the Movies. Scribner also published a book version of My Year of Flops (2010, ISBN 1-4391-5312-4).
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, Rabin was the first head writer for The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
, a position he continues to hold today.
He coined the phrase manic pixie dream girl
Manic Pixie Dream Girl
Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a stock character in films. Film critic Nathan Rabin, who coined the term after seeing Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown , describes the MPDG as "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach...
as a cinematic type
Stock character
A Stock character is a fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Stock characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. In their most general form, stock characters are related to literary archetypes,...
. He was a panelist on the short-lived basic cable show "Movie Club with John Ridley
John Ridley
John Ridley is an American film director, actor, and writer.Ridley got his start as a stand-up comedian. He eventually was hired as a writer for sitcoms such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Martin...
" on American Movie Classics. In 2007, he began "My Year of Flops" on The A.V. Club, where he re-evaluated films that were shunned by critics, ignored by audiences, or both, at their time of release. As of January 2008, the year was finished, but he continues the project as a bi-monthly feature. Other ongoing features Rabin writes for The A.V Club include Dispatches From Direct-To-DVD Purgatory, a tongue-in-cheek look at DVD premieres, Silly Little Show-Biz Book Club a humorous exploration of trashy books about entertainment and Ephemereview, which offers critiques of sub-reviewable pop-culture detritus.
Rabin released his memoir in 2009, The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought To You By Pop Culture, (2009, ISBN 1-4165-5621-3) which was published by Scribner
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
gave the book a negative review, calling it a "...failed project is brought to you by pop culture." while The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote, "[Rabin] has packed [The Big Rewind] like a cannon, full of caustic wit and bruised feelings" in its more positive review. The book uses novels such as The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is a novel by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. First published in1925, it is set on Long Island's North Shore and in New York City from spring to autumn of 1922....
, musical recordings such as The Charm of the Highway Strip
The Charm of the Highway Strip
The Charm of the Highway Strip is the fourth studio album by The Magnetic Fields, released in 1994. It is the first Magnetic Fields album to have its original release with Merge Records. Its title, lyrics and musical styling are a nod to country music, though the songs of Stephin Merritt remain...
by The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
and other pop culture items as a springboard to discuss its author's tragi-comic adolescence as a guest of a mental hospital, a foster family whose patience and generosity he jokes "knew only strict, unyielding boundaries" and the Jewish Children's Bureau group home system as well as his career with The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
and the short-lived film review show Movie Club With John Ridley
John Ridley
John Ridley is an American film director, actor, and writer.Ridley got his start as a stand-up comedian. He eventually was hired as a writer for sitcoms such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Martin...
which he appeared on. The book ends with a chapter about Rabin's unsuccessful audition to fill in for Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
as a guest critic on At the Movies. Scribner also published a book version of My Year of Flops (2010, ISBN 1-4391-5312-4).