Movie Critics - who do you trust?

Rash — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 23:52:46 -0800

Name some movie reviewers you trust. What makes a good film critic? To me, the quality movie review is NOT just describing what takes place, and then commenting upon it. That method gets you into spoiler territory pretty quick. There's a guy on public radio named Bob Mondello -- this is the only method he knows, and he's infuriating -- I turn him off immediately I hear his voice. Of course, some description is necessary; it's the scene-by-scene detail I'm railing against here. Critics I like include Roger Ebert, David Edelstein, Elvis Mitchell -- and Anthony Lane in the New Yorker is fantastic.

Another common characteristic of esp. Hollywood print reviews I dislike is putting the actor's previous films in parantheses between his first and last name -- if that data's required, visit the IMDb.

Needless to say, now that the distinctions between criticism and promotion are so blurry, some pre-screening research is vital before buying that movie ticket.

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Movie Critics - who do you trust?