Some thoughts on the relevance of film critics

Your Email:

Your Name:

To:

Subject:

Message:
Back in 2005, I was invited to be a guest film critic on AMC’s THE MOVIE CLUB.  I figured it would be great experience for me and great exposure for FilmRadar as well.  In spite of this, I still felt a little strange about the whole thing simply because I don’t see myself as a critic.  I see myself as a “Film Enthusiast” who happens to have a slightly public platform (this site and e-newsletter) for their enthusiasm.  To me critics can often be elitist and wildly out of touch with audience tastes.  I didn’t want to come across as one of those types.  One of the movies I reviewed on the show was HERBIE FULLY LOADED starring Lindsay Lohan.  I gave it 2 1/2 stars.  People were shocked.  I actually got numerous e-mails from friends and strangers asking me if I had lost my mind.  I stand by that review though.  I studied the work of filmmakers such as King Vidor, Jean Luc-Godard and Vincente Minnelli in film school.  HERBIE is a movie wasn’t INTENDED for someone like me.  That is pretty clear.  What was also clear to me though is that it seemed to be very appealing to a certain specific audience.  When I was in the screening, there was a whole row of tweener girls sitting in front of me and they loved the film.  I could tell they were having a really good time watching it.  THAT is why I gave it a positive review.  It was effectively appealing to the audience that it was meant to reach in the first place.  I felt the same way about BEWITCHED.  Personally I wouldn’t have seen EITHER one of those films on my own accord simply because they are not my personal taste.  I tried to leave my personal taste out of the equation and simply endorse films based on what the general public would like.  I think another part of movie going consists of what you are looking to get out of the experience.  For example, I have a friend whose tastes are 180 degrees opposite of mine.  She loves big fluffy mainstream comedies and action films.  Her recent movie going nights have included NORBIT and GHOST RIDER.  I am far more likely to be found at the Nuart or the Laemmle theatres taking in a documentary or foreign film.  I would never say my friend has bad taste.  It is simply DIFFERENT taste.  She is also not going into a movie with the same objectives that I am.  She just wants to relax, unwind and be entertained for a few hours.  She wants to forget about her boss, her bills and all of the other nagging problems in the outside world.  She just wants to escape for 2 hours.  People have had a similiar mindset about film going since it began.  In the 1930s people flocked to the movies simply to escape the overwhelming day to day life during the Great Depression.  The same thing happened during WWII.  Many people just want a fun diversion and an escape, nothing more and nothing less.  There has been much ballyhoo in the press over 300 and WILD HOGS lately.  Both films received horrible reviews, yet both have been super successful at the box office.  Does the appreciation of a mass audience necessarily verify or confirm filmmaking excellence?  Well no, but it does mean something.  It means these films are getting a reaction from the public.  They are striking a nerve or perhaps filling a void in audience tastes.  My parents loved WILD HOGS and they rarely ever go to the movies simply because they feel movies aren’t made to appeal to people their age anymore.  With the Baby Boomer generation now entering their 60s, there is a whole audience that is out there and largely untapped.  Movies are seldom made that appeal to them.  With the rise of blogging, film critics and their opinions are becoming less valued than ever before.  My Mom even goes online and reads reviews and what people are saying.  I don’t think it is just the MySpace crowd doing this anymore. Then again, movies like 300 or WILD HOGS also have huge marketing budgets and a powerful studio behind them.  That can always help propel a film regardless of how good it is.  It seems that perhaps the smaller films are the ones who stand to gain or loose the most by critical opinion.  A film like LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE might not have had the popular success it enjoyed without the critics getting behind it.  Then again the critics loved ZODIAC and it is floundering at the box office.  Who’s to say? All in all, there is no real formula to guarantee a film’s success.  Sometimes horrible films do well and brilliant films often sink like a stone.  I think the movie business is just a big lottery and game of chance.  Read Patrick Goldstein’s column in the LA Times today for more insight.    http://www.filmradar.com/karies_blog/item/some_thoughts_on_the_relevance_of_film_critics/