14: J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader film critic

J.R. Jones, film critic and author of The Lives of Robert Ryan, tells us about what it's like to work as a movie reviewer today. Find his reviews and other writing for the Chicago Reader here.

Robert Ryan was known for his bigoted, violent characters in movies like The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen, and Bad Day at Black Rock, but off the screen Ryan was a civil rights activist and pacifist, a fascinating dichotomy that Jones brings to life in his book and in our conversation. 

Finally, I ask J.R. Jones to share some of his memories of the novelist and short story writer Richard Yates. Jones also grew up in Deerfield, so we hear a bit about how the Deerfield library and community inspired his early interest in film.

You can check out The Lives of Robert Ryan or explore the work of Robert Ryan or Richard Yates here at the library.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: [email protected]. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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