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Survey: Best on the Big Screen -
'Jodorowsky's Dune' Reviews -
'All is Lost' Early Reviews -
'Only God Forgives' First Reviews -
Lars Ulrich, Ebert Fan
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Blockbusters Into Darkness -
'Candelabra' First Reviews -
Mel Brooks' Schemes -
'Rainer on Film' Excerpt -
'Llewyn Davis' First Reviews
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'Into Darkness'' Mystery Villain -
The Marky Mark Workout -
Weird Pull Quote Theater! -
VODetails: 'American Mary' -
James Franco, Film Critic
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Cannes Reviews: 'Bling Ring' -
Cannes Critics to Follow on Twitter -
Survey: Childhood Favorites -
'Dead' and Loving It -
Ebert Series at Cinematheque
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Favorite Underrated Comedies -
Uwe Boll Got Better (and Worse) -
AP Critics Resign -
Shots That Should Be Retired -
Best Indiewire Criticism
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Review Report -
Weird Pull Quote Theater! -
Ebert Honored by Sundance -
Zacharek on Criticism -
Survey: Best Young Directors
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McConaughey on Critics -
Baldwin on Critics -
Watching 'Star Wars' For 1st Time -
The State of Movie Projection -
Defending the Mandarin
Marlon Wayans on Critics
French Announces Retirement
Survey: Comic Book Movies
Watch 'Not Fade Away'
The Internet Troll of Filmmakers
A Tribute to Roger Ebert
The Richest Woman in TownFrom the Wire: Times Editor Quotes Times Critics On Subject of Times Review
"'Most movies are middling,' she said. 'They’re fine, but they’re not transporting you.' Ms. Dargis is acutely aware of how a bad review can hurt -- not only feelings, but also commercial success. This is especially true for critics at The Times; a great deal rides on the judgment of the paper of record. Some blockbuster movies, though, are 'practically critic-proof,' she said. When the subject is vulnerable, one solution may be to not review at all. But sometimes that’s not practical. The Times can pass on reviewing, for example, an independent filmmaker’s fledgling effort or an art exhibit in a small gallery, but it is committed to reviewing major concerts, films and theater productions, whatever their quality."
That could get us into a whole discussion about whether certain movies really are "critic-proof," but that's a topic probably best saved another time. I'm still interested what readers think about this subject: was the original review going too far? Should negative reviews be used sparingly? Should critics feel responsible about how their reviews impact movies' box office receipts? Let me know what you think below.
Read more of "Reviews With 'All Guns Blazing.'"
1 Comment
Nina Seavey | November 29, 2012 8:43 AM
Matt - Your comments about negative reviews is spot on. Several years ago I had a documentary released theatrically by Emerging Pictures, THE BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT. The film followed seven Russian teenagers in their quest to become country music stars. Before the film was released, Jill Abramson (now the editor of the NYT's) did a full-page Arts and Leisure cover story about the band, the film, etc. It was an auspicious start to what we assumed would be a substantial theatrical run.
Not so. The NYT Movies editor assigned the review to Elvis Mitchell who decimated the film, and attacked me personally. His assessment was so full of vitriol that Ira Deutchman, President of Emerging Pictures, received an e-mail from a colleague with the subject line: "Die Elvis Die." Needless to say that review killed the film theatrically, it closed in two days.
Turns out, Elvis Mitchell hates country music and should never have been assigned the film to begin with. Also, why he would vent his bile on an independent documentary and an independent documentarian was beyond the imagination of anyone who read his scathing assessment.
Ultimately, though, the film did well. Viacom picked it up for broadcast, I was nominated for an Emmy for Best Director, and the film is still out in distribution in many forms. Elvis also eventually lost his job at the Times, obviously unrelated events.
But that review stands out as what is probably the low point in a long filmmaking career and as a matter of professionalism on the part of the Times should never have been written in the style and tone that it was.