October 23, 2004

The Politics of Movie Reviews I was looking up a movie to see tonight, and although I didn't see this one yet, I was a bit shocked, although not entirely surprised, to find that all of the negative reviews resulted from the reviewer's political/moral objections to the subject matter.

Some of my friends weren't in the mood for Vera Drake, so we ended up seeing Ghost in the Shell 2, but afterwords we were discussing films with morals vs. preachy films that force a moral down your throat. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved Fahrenheit 9/11, but that movie was not intended at all to be subtle about it's message, and I understand why people opposed to it's point of view would get upset about it. But when a movie attempts to show both sides of an issue, or even just place an issue in context for the viewer to decide, isn't a more fair review in order. Anway, I suppose I should ask a question here to spark conversation, so my question is, WTF? Does anyone out there still have an open mind when it comes to film and literature. I don't mean critics, because I found several good critical reviews both for and against. I mean everyday normal people. Why does everything seem to be black and white?

posted by imhotep1 20 years ago
  • Things seem black or white to minds that cannot handle subtly and ambiguity, that can't and won't even try to understand contrary positions. I remember reading dozens of reviews condemning Fahrenheit 911 on IMDB weeks before the movie was released by people who had not seen it, people so offended that the topic would even be discussed that they had to condemn the discussion rather than consider the film on it's merits as a film. And not incidentally do these reviews always come from the religious/political right.
  • Not really possible to show more than one side of an issue. The movie is oging to present one person's world view, the more you disbelieve that view, the more you'll find it to be a lousy flick.
  • I saw the movie premiere at the Venice Film Festival (it won the first prize and best actress). The thing that really makes it different from other movies i saw about "ethical" themes, is that it DOESN'T try to lecture you about an ethical problem, but it portrays a character who has made a difficult and controversial choice and faces the consequences of it. No philosophical dialogues, no heroical lawyers trying to save a victim of society. I thought it was great, but i guess that's because i am pro-choice ;-) Oh, and Mike Leigh is a very nice fella.
  • I never listen to movie reviews. There are few good movie reviewers.
  • Didn't you know imhotep that there are only two sides to every issue - black and white, left and right, good and evil? At least, that's what Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala tell me.
  • spiked: That's the worst sort of film as far as idealogues are concerned - by portraying people in a way the audience can connect with emotionally, it will stimulate the "walk a mile in their shoes" thinking that undermines ideology.
  • And might lead to tolerance. So keep the kiddies away from this one!