Which film critics do you trust (if any?)

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

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

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

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

For shame! Socrates never wrote a word...

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

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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

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

rofl ;)

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

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 (eighteen years ago) link

Armand White
Harry Knowles
My gut

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

Oh, Mark Peranson too.

x-p

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

Mark Lamarr
Roeper

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

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 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh, AMY TAUBIN

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

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

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

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

Gavin Smith?

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

No, not Guy Maddin either.

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

Howard Hampton, maybe.

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

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

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 (eighteen years ago) link

that was an xpost about the Film Comment writer

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

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

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

If I can Brecht it down for just a second here.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:06 (eighteen years ago) link

I can't imagine liking David Thomson unless you want to consistantly read about how disillusioned with cinema he is and how any new celebrated (non-American) filmmaker will never rival the old masters.

(you're right though, his writing on acting is great.)

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Except Wes Anderson, apparently!

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:07 (eighteen years ago) link

David Thomson is totally one of those people who I can imagine playing his own wife in drag.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Of course I do that all the time, which is why I can spot it so easily.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:08 (eighteen years ago) link

I have no idea who any of these people you guys are talking about are.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:09 (eighteen years ago) link

Well, if you put down Fangoria for just a second...

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:10 (eighteen years ago) link

Gavin Smith has sat in my row at films twice this year, and fidgets too much.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:11 (eighteen years ago) link

Haha what makes you think I read Fangoria?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:12 (eighteen years ago) link

Call it a hunch.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:12 (eighteen years ago) link

...Do you?

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:13 (eighteen years ago) link

I can't remember the last time I saw a movie wholely because of a review I read. I can't stand reading movie reviews though for the most part.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:15 (eighteen years ago) link

I see Gavin Smith at Film Forum pretty frequently.

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:15 (eighteen years ago) link

No, I don't.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Reviews are better after you've seen the movie.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Reading film criticism is about as fun as watching paint dry. I like interviews with directors occassionally, but only when the interviewer does not ask the director about HIS PROCESS.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:17 (eighteen years ago) link

Haha.

WHY?

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:18 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, I used to see GS at screenings allatime as well.

You're a hard man, Alex.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Because it's such a vague and stupid question and directors always give the lamest answers.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:20 (eighteen years ago) link

I generally skip interviews and read tons of criticism (generally after I've seen the movie--though I read the whole Voice and Chicago Reader sections when they come out).

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:21 (eighteen years ago) link

I like good film criticism. It's like any good writing. There's just not enough of it. I like it when it's creative and funny and contrary and mad.

I am here all afternoon to pepper your board with the obvious.

― Soledad (nordicskilla), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:23 (eighteen years ago) link

"I like good film criticism."

Of which there is basically like none.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:26 (eighteen years ago) link

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