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Margaret Pomeranz

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Margaret Pomeranz
AM
Pomeranz in 2013
Born
Margeret Anne Jones-Owen

(1944-07-14) 14 July 1944 (age 80)
Waverley, New South Wales, Australia
EducationPresbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney; Macquarie University; National Institute of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Film critic (Screen, on Foxtel Arts)
EmployerAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Known for
  • Film critic
  • television personality
  • producer
  • writer
Board member of
SpouseHans Pomeranz

Margaret Pomeranz AM (born Margeret Anne Jones-Owen, 14 July 1944) is an Australian film critic, writer, producer, and television personality.

Early life

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Pomeranz was born Margeret Anne Jones-Owen on 14 July 1944 in Waverley, a suburb of Sydney.[1][2]

She was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney in Croydon, the then newly opened Macquarie University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and social psychology, and the Playwright's Studio at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).[1][2]

In between her studies, she spent two-and-a-half years in Vienna, where she worked as a stringer for The Bulletin and ABC Rural Radio. She wrote stories about such things as Australian sales to Hungarian farmers, and the effects of the Russian wheat crop failing.[3]

Career

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Pomeranz joined the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in 1980 as writer and producer, working on TV programs such Front Up, Subsonics and the AFI and IF Awards.[4]

With David Stratton

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She was appointed producer for David Stratton's film presentations. Together with Stratton, she hosted the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show from 30 October 1986 until 2004. From 1 July 2004 she appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) version of the program, At the Movies, again with Stratton,[4] concluding on 9 December 2014.[5][6]

Two articles which analysed their reviews at SBS and ABC showed that Stratton was generally a slightly harsher critic than Pomeranz.[7][8] At SBS, they only both gave five stars to four films: Evil Angels (1988), Return Home (1990), The Piano (1993), and Lantana (2001).[7] At the ABC, they only both gave five stars to six films: Brokeback Mountain (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), No Country For Old Men (2007), Samson and Delilah (2009), A Separation (2011), and Amour (2012).[8] They disagreed particularly on Romper Stomper (David refusing to rate it because of the racist violence in the film), The Castle (1997), Last Train to Freo (2006), Human Touch (2004), and Kenny (2006), with Stratton awarding fewer stars than Pomeranz on all but Human Touch.[7]

Other activities

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In addition to being a critic, Pomeranz is also an anti-censorship campaigner. She was a prominent attendee and was briefly detained by police at an attempted 2003 protest screening of the controversial film Ken Park, banned in Australia.[9] She has been critical of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (now the Australian Classification Board), the Australian censorship body, on a number of occasions. She has also spoken out against production companies refusing to give preview screenings for critics.[citation needed]

On 29 January 2015, it was announced that Pomeranz had signed with Foxtel to present film and television programs on Foxtel Arts, along with Graeme Blundell, in a new series called Screen.[10][11][12]

Screen stopped production in 2020, and past episodes are available on YouTube.[13][14]

Pomeranz has appeared regularly on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering as a guest reviewer giving humorous reviews of TV shows, such as Married at First Sight[15] Below Deck,[16] and Love in the Jungle.[17]

Recognition and honours

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Pomeranz was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2005 Australia Day Honours.[18]

In 2015, Pomeranz and Stratton were named patrons of the French Film Festival in Australia.[19]

On 13 April 2016, Pomeranz and Stratton were both awarded honorary doctorates (Doctor of Letters) at Macquarie University, for their contribution to the film industry[20][21]

In 2017, Pomeranz became the first woman to be honoured with a star on Winton's Walk of Fame during The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival in Winton, Queensland.[22]

Pomeranz and Stratton received the Don Dunstan Award in 2018 and are both Patrons of the Adelaide Film Festival.[23]

In May 2023, Pomeranz was awarded an honorary doctorate (Letters) from the University of Sydney "for her impact on popular culture, film and performing arts".[24]

Cameos

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Pomeranz had an uncredited role in the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as Adam's mother.[citation needed]

She has also appeared as herself in several Australian comedy programs and promotions, including:[citation needed]

Personal life

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She married Hans Pomeranz.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Duthie, Amanda (2017). Margaret and David: 5 stars. Wakefield Press (Adelaide). p. 31. ISBN 9-78-174305513-7.
  2. ^ a b Lake, Gayle. "Pomeranz, Margaret". The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia. The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b At the Movies biography, 2004
  4. ^ a b Thurling, Jan (2011). "Celebrating 25 years in 2011". National Film and Sound Archive.
  5. ^ "What Margaret and David say about 500 Oz Movies". Ozflicks. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ^ Hennessy, Kate (22 December 2023). "David Stratton's closing credits: 'I've done the best I could'". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "What Margaret and David say about 500 Oz Movies". Ozflicks. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b Evershed, Nick (16 September 2014). "At the Movies: Margaret and David's most divisive films revealed". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  9. ^ George, Sandy (4 July 2003). "Sydney screening of Ken Park raided by police". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  10. ^ Koziol, Michael (29 January 2015). "Margaret Pomeranz to join Foxtel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Foxtel signs Margaret Pomeranz". IF Magazine. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Screen returns to Foxtel Arts in March". Ryno's TV. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Screen on Foxtel Arts". YouTube.
  14. ^ "Foxtel Arts channel to close | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  15. ^ Estera, Christine (13 April 2023). "TV critic Margaret Pomeranz blasts MAFS 'halfwits' in blistering review". news.com.au. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  16. ^ Below Deck on YouTube
  17. ^ Love in the Jungle on YouTube
  18. ^ "Name Ms Margaret Anne POMERANZ". Australian Government. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  19. ^ Curtin, Jennie (26 January 2015). "David Stratton's 50-year service to film honoured". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  20. ^ Deare, Steven (13 April 2016). "Five stars! Highest honour for movie critics". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Autumn graduation season commences: Honorary Doctorates for alumna Margaret Pomeranz AM and more". The Lighthouse. Macquarie University. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  22. ^ Wykeham, Ollie (29 June 2017). "Margaret Pomeranz honoured with star on Winton Walk of Fame at outback film festival". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Patrons and Board". Adelaide Film Festival. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Margaret Pomeranz awarded Doctor of Letters". The University of Sydney. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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