Fans can’ t just trust the critics

OPINIONS CAN VARY ON FILMS

How often have you watched a film, only to say, “Well that’s two hours of my life wasted!”? I hope not too often, but to avoid such scenarios many look to critics to help. People rely on critics to help steer them to great films, while steering away from stinkers.

There are no shortages of movie critics. I hope that you are not one who relies solely on what a critic says about a film. I will let you in on a littleknown secret — some of these critics never see the film they are talking up — they are on the payroll and write what they are told to write.

In the “good old days,” I loved Siskell & Ebert and then Ebert and Roeper and then it became Roeper and guest critic. It can be a challenge to find someone who is objective and shares similar tastes, values and appreciation of what you like in a movie.

A favourite spot for many, including myself, on the internet is www.rottentomatoes.com — it contains a broad sampling of many critics (both amateur and professionals) and gives the film a rating out of 100 per cent, for both critics and the audience.

I tend to pay more attention to the “top critics” who write for some of the bigger publications but it is interesting to see how varied opinions can be on the same movie. It takes time to research the films, to wade through the trailers, the hype and the buzz to really ascertain whether the two hours of your life and the cash required are worth the investment.

As for myself, I only use reviews as a guideline, and truly rely on word of mouth (the audience score). I care more about what a trusted, known individual thinks about a film versus an unknown critic. It is interesting to note that great reviews do not always translate into great performance at the box office.

A current example of this is with the extraordinary film “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” (a touching look at the life of Mr. Rogers). Even with an amazing critic and audience score, it struggles to find its audience amidst the summer competition. Meanwhile, low-scoring films which are effectively and powerfully marketed can see huge crowds!

Sometimes there is simply no justice, or rhyme or reason to this industry. See you at the movie theatre! Please feel free to contact me with your comments or feedback — even an idea for an article — len@moviemill.com.