In Reply to: RE: Best or most popular? Corliss should know better. Just posted by Peter H-son on December 11, 2007 at 15:34:57:
I think Corliss point is this: We critics pontificate about the best films of the year, make up our lists, and no one cares. We write about, and recommend, these obscure films that, despite our best efforts, remain largely unseen by the movie going public. The movie going public has no interest. I and other critict pump up the latest Coen Bros. film, and the only response I get from people in my office is "yea, I keep meaning to see that one." Guess what? They ran out to see Enchanted.
The movie going public would prefer to spend their hard earned dollars on films made strictly for entertainment. And the Hollywood machine, which needs money to survive, promotes and advertises those films made for entertainment, while it spends nary a penny on those films we critics recommend.
The academy will throw us a bone by nominating those art films we love for awards, but then the public will stay away from the award shows because they want to see the big production films, not the small art films.
I do not read Corliss' piece to suggest that critics should factor in mainstream success in their opinions - after all, their opinions are generally published before the box office numbers are tallied. Rather, I think Corliss is suggesting, "what is the point?" "Does anyone really care?"
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Follow Ups
- RE: Best or most popular? Corliss should know better. Just - jamesgarvin 16:04:30 12/11/07 (4)
- Distributor decides? We have pablum filled... - mpathus 23:22:26 12/12/07 (2)
- Exactly!!!!!! For every "serious" critic, we get hundreds or thousands of - tinear 11:08:52 12/14/07 (1)
- RE: Exactly!!!!!! For every "serious" critic, we get hundreds or thousands of - Peter H-son 12:22:39 12/14/07 (0)
- RE: Best or most popular? Corliss should know better. Just - Peter H-son 11:42:27 12/12/07 (0)