How Peter Howell reviews new films
Watching movies is only part of this job, which includes interviews, news and more
This story is part of the Star’s trust initiative, where, every week, we take readers behind the scenes of our journalism. This week, we focus on how Peter Howell, the Star’s film critic, does his job. While the role of film critic for the Toronto Star does involve watching a lot of movies, that’s not all it’s about. For 21 years, Peter Howell has been bringing readers film news, interviews with stars and directors, and his thoughts on whether the movies of the day are worth your time and hard-earned cash. This week, TIFF announced its first batch of movies for this year’s film festival — an ideal time to ask Howell how he juggles the demands of this busy beat. What is your process for reviewing movies? For example, do you take notes, or watch movies twice?
I always take notes, but I try to keep them brief so as not to lose track of the movie. I often see a movie twice, but usually only in cases where I saw the films months before I review it, say at Cannes or Sundance. Many of the big Hollywood movies offer critics just one chance to see them, on a Wednesday night prior to a Friday opening. But you don’t need to see Transformers: The Last Knight twice to know that it sucks! How do you choose what to review?
As many as 10 to 15 new movies open in Toronto each week. Entertainment deputy editor Garnet Fraser and I prioritize reviews according to the movies we think Star readers most want to know about. Most weeks, these would be the big Hollywood releases opening at multiple theatres, such as Atomic Blonde this week.
Then comes the art house and festival movies that may be playing in just a single theatre, but are significant works of cinema. Last in line would be what we used to call “straight to video” movies, the kind that are getting a quick release and are dumped online or in retail discount bins. We can’t review everything, but we do our best. How many movies do you review per week?
I average about five movie reviews per week, if you include my DVD reviews. I also write a movies column, which usually runs Friday but sometimes more often than that. I do interviews with stars and directors and news stories about important film matters, such as TIFF’s latest festival plans. My colleague Bruce DeMara assists me with reviewing and he’s a huge help. How many movies do you normally watch during TIFF?
I estimate I see about 60 of the 240 (formerly 300) movies that TIFF screens during its big September festival. Some of these I’ll see before the fest starts, others during it. I get a big head start by attending the Cannes and Sundance festivals, which are big wells of quality cinema that TIFF draws from for its global selections. Where do you watch most of the movies you review? At home? In theatres?
I see movies in press screenings, public screenings and increasingly through online links sent through streaming services like Vimeo, Netflix and Amazon. Do you pay admission if watching in a theatre, or are all the movies you review provided free of charge?
This is a tricky question, because I’d argue there’s no such thing as a “free” movie for a critic. If you’re watching a film taking notes in the dark and then writing a review afterwards, that’s work. But as with other entertainment events and sporting events, critics are given tickets or provided viewing screeners as a professional courtesy. Do you ever feel pressure either from studios, actors or directors to review movies favourably?
Not really. I’m always aware that studios and directors and talents are eager for praise and thumbs-up reviews. But it’s not my job to be a cheerleader. I always remember that regular people have to spend their hard-earned cash on the movies they go out to see and I do my best to try to advise them on what choices to make. Do you ever find that your criticism is itself subject to criticism? If so, how did you deal with it?
Sure, there have been moments. Polite comments and complaints, I’m happy to deal with personally. But I no longer respond to anything on social media, especially Twitter. It’s turned into a troll’s paradise. What is your favourite criticism that you’ve written, if any?
That’s a tough question. But I’ve always been fond of a review I did of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas remake, starring Jim Carrey, that I wrote in Seussian rhyme. Finally, do you eat popcorn when reviewing movies?
Hardly ever. I would weigh 300 lbs. if I did. I used to eat Twizzlers during screenings, wrongly figuring them to be a low-calorie treat.
Then I looked at how much sugar is in them . . . Email your questions to trust@thestar.ca.