Despite the agnostic title, the focus is on cinema, excluding even television shows, and gathers "influential" essays such as would be used in a survey college course. My exposure to the genre is predominantly film, so the collection suits fine.

A mix of essays, some wallowing in the worst cinema criticism: navel gazing, inscrutable argot, and insider references; and some just wow-ing with their careful but concise commentary on things casual viewers probably won't notice on their own, but are fascinated to learn about once they've been pointed out. The remaining essays, most I've not yet read, or don't recall. These serve as orthodox resume builders: "Oh, I see, I should watch these various films to get an idea of the canon, and hmmn, these others I've seen don't seem to be mentioned at all."

I'll keep to dip into again, another time I watch a favourite Western.

2022 readings prompted by my reading of SHANE:
A Bazin - THE EVOLUTION OF THE WESTERN
J Kitses - AUTHORSHIP AND GENRE (Notes on the Western)
Fine, workmanlike.

M Landy - HE WENT THATAWAY (The Form & Style of Leone's Westerns)
Disappointing, didn't pick up anything that struck me as insightful or that resonates with what I love about the Leone films I've seen.

P Lehman - LOOKING AT LOOK'S MISSING REVERSE SHOT (Psychoanalysis and Style in John Ford's The Searchers)
Astounding. The vital importance of what is edited out of a shot, can be as definitive as what appears. ( )