Reviews
Serious Criticism for Serious Films
David Carr reported yesterday in The New York Times that several newspapers across the country are laying off film critics. He starts off the article with comments from distributors who seem to lament the loss though the tone of the article overall seems to be a snide commentary on online film writers, or maybe I’m projecting?
The paper owners claim poverty and in the age of instant syndication, why can’t they make it work with a handful of national critics? After all, your 21s, Drillbit Taylors and Leatherheads are the same no matter where you see them, right? Welcome to the Clear Channel phenomena where local voices are purged in favor of corporate homogenization in the name of profits.
Carr’s article claims that, what David Poland and S.T. VanAirsdale call “serious films,” which seems to mean independent and foreign films from the context of the article, will suffer at the box office for lack of print film critic champions. It seems to me that there are a lot of issues wrapped up in this discussion and unfortunaly Carr’s article barely scratches the surface. Eugene Hernandez opened another discussion forum on his blog, rightly, particularly since indiewire is cited as one of the spots where folks can go online to find movie news.
Dear Filmmaker,
Would you please speak up?! Eugene Hernandez posted a discussion starter on his blog about The Festival That Shall Not Be Named Here and their absurd new policy that accredited festival press may not post film reviews in advance of the premiere screening. Journalists and film writers like myself have a sense of our own importance, for better or worse, but what really matters is filmmakers. It’s the internet for God’s sake–you can post anonymously, but let your thoughts be heard.
If I see 5 filmmaker comments on Eug’s blog that say this is a great, welcome policy, then maybe we shift our understanding of what is helpful and what isn’t. If you say it’s not helpful, then maybe (and I give that a big maybe), the fest will shift its policy. I’m so utterly sick of this particular festival bullying everyone who tries to participate and no one speaking up. Hey, they supposedly made changes to respond to criticism for this year, so at least give it a shot. Read Eugene’s post and share a comment, PUULEEZ!
SXSW 08: In a Dream
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a day at a festival like I had yesterday. Truly amazing. I watched Margaret Brown’s excellent work, then In a Dream by Jeremiah Zagar, a beautiful new film that took home the Emerging Visions Audience Award here at SXSW.
Sundancing 08: Goliath
I know this is late, but since the film will be playing shortly at SXSW, it’s still timely, and curses on flu!
I’m newly aware of David Zellner and Nathan Zellner (pictured with cinematographer and Austinite PJ Ravel). They hail from Austin and in that respect, are now a part of my film world, so I was excited to hit their Sundance screening. I mostly wanted to support of their work and hoped for a good movie. I was maybe a little surprised that I liked the film as much as I did.
Sundancing 08: On Roman Polanski
I guess I’m a bit more of a feminist than I realize. I can recall several times this past year where I’ve posted about the topic because a film touched a nerve. Marina Zenovich’s film, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which premiered at Sundance last week
I'm really looking forward to this one and was excited to see the trailer posted, but it looks like the ...
Thanks for the feedback Mark, I'll keep that in mind :) 
Wow, that does look great!
More video, Agnes! I love when you post cool stuff like this! 
Right on! I thought the exact same thing when I read the times article. I think its also ...