Which film critics do you trust (if any?)

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S. Zacharek and C. Taylor would be OK if they were banned from using the words "deliciously," "scrumptiously," "wickedly" (etc) for the rest of their movie-going days.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

the only film critic I like much is Dave Kehr - I wish he'd publish a book of his capsule reviews, they're probably the best film writing I've read anywhere.

usually, the more I read of a critic's work, the less interesting I find them, eventually. even a lot of Pauline Kael's stuff doesn't hold up as well as I'd like it to - good as the writing is, a lot of her reactions to movies seem flaky and ill-thought-out.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 03:12 (twenty-two years ago)

otm! the word "delicious" I have a specific objection to, it's funny that you should bring that up

(I think for the time being it should only be applied to food, at least until everyone straightens their heads out)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 07:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh man, now I have images of Zacharek and Taylor saying "delicious!" and "scrumptious!" in bed together.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 07:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Namedrop 101: Roger Ebert used to date my step-aunt (aka daughter of my grandfather's second wife), which I find odd (but she was 6 feet tall and was Robert Redford's PA at the time Sundance was founded).

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"this food is really...searching"

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 09:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Ebert had something to do with the Sex Pistols 'Swindle' movie.

― Enriq (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

He and Russ Meyer were supposed to write and direct. Russ however took exception to Johnny R.'s manners.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Armond White is the Trife of movie critics.

― Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll second Nick Mirov's mention of Kenneth Turan. 70% of his reviews are negative and his criticism of the industry is that there are too many movies being released. I know this reeks of film-rockism but search his reviews before you dismiss him.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I really have to say I like the critics for the Onion and Film Comment, generally speaking. They're quite thoughtful and not at all mean-spirited in their dismissals. Even if you disagree with them, they usually bring up valid points as opposed to snarky one-liners.

Peter Travers must be destroyed, along with the rest of the RS staff.

― Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the FC crew as well, though I've been having some trouble lately seeing where exactly Kent Jones is coming from on certain films... but he's still a great writer.

Scott Tobias has always been and always will be among my favorite on the internet. Up there with Steve Erickson.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

PAULINE KAEL! WHAZZZZZUUUUUUP.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 5 February 2004 07:10 (twenty-two years ago)

The Onion critics also bring up snarky one-liners as well, that's why they are grebt.

I'd just like to recognise the great opening shot from N., which was exactly my reaction to the title.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 5 February 2004 10:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i like Zacharek too. She really attempts to do the whole Kael "judging movies without preconceived notions" thing.

― sym (shmuel), Thursday, 5 February 2004 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Ezekiel Baran

― chris (chris), Thursday, 5 February 2004 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Zacharek's got a girlbody fetish only rivaled by Ebert. But she's probably as good a critic as is out there right now.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 5 February 2004 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"judging movies without preconceived notions"

Yeah and indeed .

Even if this were possible it would be a bad idea, but it isn't, so it is. SZ might well be the worst critic to have an international profile. I'm no Kael fan but SZ isn't fit to polish PK's glasses.

― Enrique (Enrique), Friday, 6 February 2004 09:30 (twenty-two years ago)

kael is the most frustrating critic ever, i can't read her at all

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 6 February 2004 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

P.E.B's spoken word review of Cold mountain was the best review of any film ever that I've heard, read, seen.

― chris (chris), Friday, 6 February 2004 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

who's PEB?

― Enrique (Enrique), Friday, 6 February 2004 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Ezekiel Baran

― chris (chris), Friday, 6 February 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh. I rep his work in general. Did anyone transcribe it for posterity?

― Enrique (Enrique), Friday, 6 February 2004 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

no, how can you describe an impression of Renee Zellweger?

― chris (chris), Friday, 6 February 2004 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

For shame! Socrates never wrote a word...

― Enrique (Enrique), Friday, 6 February 2004 12:43 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

http://davekehr.com

Kehr's often spot-on and to the point; he got The Ice Harvest, and I often consult the many Brief Reviews he has here:

http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/search/briefs

(to wit)

Bullitt

Steve McQueen as a tres chic San Francisco cop, though the real star is his sports car. There isn't much here, and what there is is awfully easy. With Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn, Robert Duvall, and a chase sequence that achieved classic status mainly by going on too long; Peter Yates directed this 1968 feature. 113 min.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 December 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Dave Kehr
David Thomson
Stephanie Zancharek
Alfred Soto
Dennis Lim
Dr Morbius

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

rofl ;)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

I don't understand the love that Dave Thomson gets here.

My list:

Jonathan Rosenbaum
Dave Kehr
J. Hoberman
Michael Atkinson
Dennis Lim
Adrian Martin
Kent Jones
Philip Lopate (not really a critic as such, though)
Steve Erickson
Stewart Klawans
WSWS guys
David Sterritt
Tony Rayns

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:54 (twenty years ago)

Armand White
Harry Knowles
My gut

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Oh, Mark Peranson too.

x-p

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Mark Lamarr
Roeper

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

None of 'em. Definitely not Armand White (although I'd rather read his reviews than say Eberts.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

Oh, AMY TAUBIN

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

Armand White is brilliant. Don't join the conspiracy, fight it.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:57 (twenty years ago)

C01in's list and Alfred's list are pretty good, though I've never read any film criticism by this Soto guy.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

I'm trolling because I don't have a real answer. I sort of hate them all.

Maybe J Hoberman.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

He's far from brilliant and he likes tons of stuff I can't stand, but like I said he's interesting at times and his reviews can often be funny.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

I like reading Edelstein more than any other mainstream critic. He was unforgivably wrong about Domino, though.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:59 (twenty years ago)

There's a guy in Film Comment who is pretty good and amusing too. I can't remember his name. Hes very punny.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

Gavin Smith?

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

No, not Guy Maddin either.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

Howard Hampton, maybe.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

Also David Thomson IS (IMHO) great if you want to read about a certain kind of film (or more specifically a certain kind of actor).

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:03 (twenty years ago)

Bradshaw can be funny but he's more often frustrating. i tended to either strongly agree or strongly disagree with his reviews but i'm not sure any more since i don't go and see movies (and don't really miss it). Philip French is the worst, he just gives a plot summary these days.

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

Kent Jones? He did the hilarious 'fingerbanging the origin of the world' blurb for Anatomy of Hell.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

Thomson is one of the few critics who seems to think aloud while writing and is still compelling.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

I don't really "trust" him, but David Ansen from Newsweek is kinda useful cuz he seems to be EXACTLY in tune with the going critical consensus on a film...he's a one man Metacritic!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

that was an xpost about the Film Comment writer

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

You've got be able to properly deploy your "Bressonian"s and "Brechtian"s.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:05 (twenty years ago)

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