My Top 10 Films of 2008
Because if you can only see ten films from this last year, you need to find some more free time:
Entries Tagged as 'criticism'
My Worst 5 Films of 2008
Yes, you can do worse than Uwe Boll:
Matt’s 5 Worst Films of 2008
Merry Reviews
Gran Torino (7.3 out of 10)
The Spirit (5.6 out of 10)
The Wrestler (9.3 out of 10)
Valkyrie (6.3 out of 10)
The Reviewed
The Day the Earth Stood Still (3.9 out of 10)
Doubt (7.8 out of 10)
The Reader (5.6 out of 10)
And The Reviews Go To…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (9.5 out of 10)
Frost/Nixon (7.9 out of 10)
The Reviewings
Bolt (7.7 out of 10)
Let the Right One In (8.2 out of 10)
Twilight (4.3 out of 10)
Reviews: They Still Happen
Here’s an onslaught of my reviews from the past several weeks. I’ll try to be more timely with them in the future, but if you just can’t wait (and hey, I don’t blame you), you can always go to Collider.com and read them there.
Changeling (4.4 out of 10)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (4.7 out of 10)
Max Payne (2.0 out of 10)
Pride and Glory (1.6 out of 10)
Quantum of Solace (6.0 out of 10)
Role Models (7.8 out of 10)
Slumdog Millionaire (9.5 out of 10)
Synecdoche, New York (3 1/2 huhs? and a whaaa?)
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (7.9 out of 10)
I Disagree, Mr. Ebert
Roger Ebert laid out a few rules a couple days ago on how movie critics should behave. While I quibble with some of his rules (”Trailers”) and others are painfully obvious (”Provide a sense of experience”) and a couple are just tedious, (”Do the Math”, “Sit Down, Shut Up, and Pay Attention!”), the one I take issue with is the following:
No autographs! If for example, you are at a press event and interviewing a star, the stars are old hands at this and will think of you as a species of bottom-feeder if you ask them for an autograph. Your fellow professionals will try to pretend they are in another room, and gossip scornfully about you in the buffet line. It is bad enough they have to make a meal out of more of this god-damned shrimp without their being being associated with you. Either you are moronic enough to desire an autograph after having had the opportunity of speaking with the star in person, or you hope to sell it on eBay. It is doubly reprehensible if a star asks you for your name, and you reply, “Just your signature will be terrific!”
Of all the stars I’ve asked to autograph something for me, none have ever rolled their eyes or had other professionals in my room openly disdain me for it (and if there are those who do, so be it; that’s their issue). I don’t think there’s anything moronic about wanting an autograph just because I spoke with a star. Yes, interviews are neat but I accept that A) I’m not a great interviewer and B) the star will probably have heard the question before. Furthermore, I don’t ask for autographs from every star I meet. If there’s a special movie or TV show, I will ask an autograph for that because I want that star to know that I appreciated that work and I’m appreciated them in it. If they take affront to that, then again, it’s their issue and not mine. Being a detached critic if all well and good but if you can’t be a fan from time to time, then you may need to check your love of cinema.
Thus, my autographed copy of The Graduate, signed by Dustin Hoffman, is one of the priceless things I own and I treasure it greatly. It’s not only my favorite film of all-time signed by one of my favorite actors of all-time, but it’s a memento from my very first junket. And when I’ve managed to grab an autograph for my brother or a friend, it’s me taking the opportunity through my work to show my love. If that means I don’t meet Roger Ebert’s level of professionalism, so be it. I know my code of ethics for my job and it’s never let me down.
Das Reviewsen
Five flicks, five reviews:
Appaloosa (5.0 out of 10)
Blindness (7.9 out of 10)
Flash of Genius (4.3 out of 10)
Rachel Getting Married (7.8 out of 10)
Religulous (7.5 out of 10)
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I Like Traffic
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I Like Stuff
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I Like XBOX 360
