Film Critics vs. The Public

 

Here’s another one from the vault! (circa: August 2010)

After watching Dinner for Schmucks (2010) I was accused of being too much like other critics, because, not only did I not enjoy the movie as much as the other people who saw it with us, but also because when I was told that critics never agree with the public, I jokingly stated that it was because the movie viewing public are idiots who drool on themselves before they can tie their shoes.

Despite being said in jest, that comment seems harsh when written down. But being accused of being a stuffy critic for not liking Dinner for Schmucks as much as other people stuck with me. They thought it was great, I thought it was good. Since the beginning of film, critics and the public have toiled over this problem. So who’s right? The critics or the public? The simple answer is that both of them are right and both of them are wrong (yes, that’s the simple answer).

How My Mind Works

I found this little nugget of insight lying dormant in the “drafts” section of my blog. It’s from April 7, 2010 I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday the wife and I were in Lafayette, IN. While in the car my wife was discussing a necklace she was going to make for one of her aunts. We were discussing how she needs pink for a wedding, but her aunt is a redhead. This brought up the subject of what colors work well with my wife. She said black and red work best with her; she can also wear green, but it doesn’t go well with her blue eyes. I replied, “Did you know that John Carpenter’s The Thing was a box office disaster?

Now, you may think that I wasn’t listening to a thing my wife just said, but on the contrary, it was her words that led me to this response. Join me as we break down how my mind works.

After her comment I thought about how a green dress would work better for her if she had green eyes. Green eyes always remind me of Big Trouble in Little China, where they are searching for a green-eyed Asian girl. I had watched Starman that morning and on the IMDb trivia page it mentioned that in the commentary for Big Trouble in Little China John Carpenter mentioned that he directed Starman so that he could continue to work in Hollywood after the box office disaster of The Thing in 1982. I thought my wife would like to know that, so that’s what came out of my mouth.

The Road to Screenwriting

If you keep up with my posts, which have been few lately, you know that I began writing film criticism in 2008, when I found myself in a state of unemployment and not knowing what direction to take in life. You may also know that the words of Richard Matheson played a major role in my decision to pursue a career in writing, as did my 2008 viewing of Cameron Crowe’s autobiographic film, Almost Famous (2000). What you may not know, however, is that there is more to the story.

Emulating Your Idols

The Shirt Pocket Briefcase by Levenger

“I’m one step closer to emulating Roger Ebert, I ordered the Levenger Shirt Pocket Briefcase that Ebert has used for his note taking the past 20 years.”

There, I said it.

Why is it difficult to type those words? I can’t speak for other parts of the country (or world for that matter), but in my hometown those words illicit comments about being fat and not liking ‘good’ movies. I had a similar view, when I was 15 years old, but then I grew up. But I digress, this article isn’t about immaturity, although it is rampant here, it’s about emulating your idols.

Devil’s Punch Bowl, Silver Cascade Falls, and Backtracking

L to R: Toby, Tara, and Lacy trek the creek bed.

Our Monday hike, which took place May 10th at Shades State Park on Trail 1, had a lot to offer, including some confusion. My wife, Lacy, and fellow hikers, Toby, and Tara joined us for this outing. Since the trail is in two sections, it is easy to backtrack and miss the best parts of the trail. After walking the main loop one-and-a-half times, followed by backtracking part of the loop as well, I now have sound advice on how to avoid backtracking while still seeing all points of interest.

Movie Report: April 2010

April’s movie report is thin due to an excessive amount of time spent on Critic Planet site maintenance. As well as too much time spent on Facebook and Twitter. I’m working around the clock to remedy these issues. In the meantime, here’s what I managed to squeeze into April.

First Viewing

(Theatrical)

It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE. (2007): A daring film to say the least, written by and starring a man with cerebral palsy, it was quite a treat to see in the presence of Crispin Glover, a co-director of the film.

An Evening With Crispin Glover at the IMA

At 7:00 pm on Saturday, April 24, 2010 I experienced what I’m sure will be the most memorable four hours of my life. The time spent in the presence of Crispin Glover at the Indianapolis Museum of Art while he read and showed excerpts from eight of his books, showed It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE. (2007) (the second film in his It trilogy), followed by a Q&A, and concluding with a book signing (that, sadly, we did not have time for), is difficult to put into words, but for your benefit, and mine, I will attempt to do just that.

10 Movie Facts About Me

I don’t take part in many memes, but this one was suggested by a fellow critic I respect (Paragraph Film Reviews), plus it sounded like self-indulgent fun. So without further adieu, 10 Movie Facts About Me.

1. My earliest memory of movie watching took place when I was 4 or 5 years old. What I remember (which may be off a little) is a made-for-TV movie about an expedition to the arctic. While there, the team of scientist, workers, or adventurers (I can’t remember which) was drilling into the Earth and discovered a spiky ball that eventually turned some of them into monsters. It showed me how much power a movie can have over a person’s emotions and that anything was possible in movies.
2. I grew to appreciate cinema at an early age. My father worked evenings in a factory and my mother stayed home and watched movies with me a big part of the time. She would record our favorite movies on VHS when they were on TV and we’d rent others from the local public library. On weekends we’d splurge and rent a movie from a local mom-and-pop video store (we’d also get a pizza from Mr. Gatti’s or the Pizza Cottage, but that’s a post for another time). This was before the days of Blockbuster and Family Video, at least in our town.
3. I grew up watching off-beat comedies like The Princess Bride (1987), Murder By Death (1976), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), and Blazing Saddles (1974). Today, these are still on my list of top comedies, and had a profound effect on my sense of humor.

Movie Report: March 2010

Welcome to the premiere edition of Movie Report: March 2010. Below is a list of films I watched in the month of March. Films listed under ‘initial viewing’ were viewed for the first time and films listed under ‘previously viewed’ have been viewed at least once before. Titles that I have reviewed are linked to their reviews. I hope you enjoy the list, perhaps it will give you a few films to add to your must see list, or warn you of a few duds to avoid.

A Drunk Guy In the Tattoo Shop

Drunk guy aftermath outside the local fight club.

The night of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2010 started out like many nights before it. My wife, Lacy, and I were armed with two bottles of Oliver’s Camelot Mead, and a movie (the night’s choice was Sideways the 2004 film about wine, relationships, and how it can all go wrong). We headed to the local tattoo shop to share our wine and film with Jon. Not more than half-an-hour into Sideways a young man who knows Jon staggered up the steps and entered the shop. What transpired over the next couple of hours was documented by Lacy and myself via Facebook. Enjoy.