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Re: " I am all for qualitiy criticism. Do these guys ever offer that?"

Posted by Analog Scott (A) on May 24, 2006 at 18:21:29

In Reply to: " I am all for qualitiy criticism. Do these guys ever offer that?" posted by clarkjohnsen on May 24, 2006 at 12:10:16:

"Anthony Lane's stuff in the New Yorker deserves every plaudit.
His new collection of reviews, Nobody's Perfect (great title), exhibits him at his most enjoyable, figure-skating across the world of movies (and books) like a Russian, er, Canadian champion, glittering wit flying up from his blades. He writes the most alluring lead paragraphs of any critic I know, and one can only imagine how much effort goes into making all his throwaway aperçus seem effortless.

-- L.A. Weekly'

Now that is rich. Reviews of reviewers by...other reviewers?

"Anthony Lane was awarded the 2001 National Magazine Award in Reviews & Criticism, for three of his articles.

-- Wikipedia"

So he is a champion amoung hacks. BFD.

"Not too shoddy huh?"

At least he isn't a TV critic. But no, I'm not impressed. hacks giving each other awards does not impress me.

" Guess you've never heard of him."

Not till today.

"James Verniere is a tough critic in this movie-happy town of Boston. While The Globe falls for anything even hinting of political correctness, Jim tells it like it is, in the Herald. His remark about cinematic quality, and I'd gather this passed you by, was a backhanded swipe at the book, whose distinguishing quality was exactly that."

No it didn't pass me by. I found his misuse of the word most amusing.

"For the record, I devoured it in one sitting, or rather laying, through the night... miserably written though it was. Also for the record, Angels and Demons is a far better book.'

For the record i didn't read it at all so I have no opinion about it. OTOH any critic who thinks he knows the entire merits of a book by the first line is out to lunch. I think he was just floundring in hyperbole. I hope so at least. Either way he looks like an ass IMO for even saying it. It was either a true act of stupidity or grandstanding. Neither one is very becoming of a genuine critic. I i were to look to a literary critic for guide I would look for one that gets a bit past the first line and one that understands the critique is about the subject and not about the critic's ego. While i don't expect critics to be totally clinical and academic I think "wittiness" is no substitute for critical content. That involves an informed analysis. That was painfully lacking in either review.

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Schiit Audio

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