Film Culture Commentary: Who Critiques the Critics?

Here are two interesting pieces.  Sure, they're opinionated and problematic, but that's part of the fun, isn't it? Go here and here.  One of the topics they bang on about is the idea that Roger Ebert has destroyed film criticism.  Really?  How influential IS Roger Ebert, anyway?  Who honestly cares (aside from other professional film critics)?  I don't remember the last time I read an Ebert review.  As for going or not going to a flick based on Ebert's opinion, I can tell you how often I've done that: precisely zero.  Anyway, I go to RottenTomatoes a lot, and you should too. But in the end, the only actual film critic that matters to you is ... well, YOU.



Here's a thought from one of those pieces linked above: "all cinema says something about cinema."  Sure.  But all cinema also says something about culture, the moment in time and the place in which it was made, and -- probably above all -- a whole lot about the people making it.  (And, in the re/viewing stage, a heck of a lot about the people watching and critiquing it.) 

One last thought: film at its best can be really awesome.  It can make you think.  But there's nothing wrong with a fun popcorn movie that's not about plumbing the depths of the human psyche or whatever.  In the end, go watch what you want and don't bother feeling any guilt for being unapologetically honest about what you like or don't like.

Now, on that note, go watch "Inception" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"!