Criticism is an Art. - Jeffrey Overstreet

Mystery and Message

Photographer and teacher Michael Demkowicz on "What We Talk About When We Talk About Art."

Critics Vs. Audiences: Whom Shall We Trust?

When I shared some reviews that question the quality of a faith-based film, I received a scornful comment. So far, I've only received one. I anticipate more, based on experience. But if I only get one, I'll be just fine with that. The commenter — "M

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The Quotable Renshaw

One of this film critics' favorite quotable quotes comes from Roger Ebert: "A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it." But now I'll carry another knockout definition of criticism in my back pocket to help clarify matters...

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The Awful Truth: "Portlandia" and How to Succeed in "Journalism"

"Don't waste my time" — that's the prevailing attitude for most readers on the Internet. But here's the thing: If you don't take time to read, re-read, discuss, and reflect on what you're reading, then you are wasting your time. I know because I'm guilty of this. I can spend hours perusing the Inter

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In Honor of Sister Rose Pacatte

I'm delighted to see people taking notice of Sister Rose Pacatte, who goes about her work with a spirit of curiosity, fearlessness, discernment, and humility. She doesn't write with a sanctimonious, presumptuous, or condescending tone. She writes and speaks, rather, as a friend on the journey, shari

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A Pledge of Allegiance: In Search of Beauty at Good Letters

Here is an index of all of the Good Letters posts I turned in. Some of the time I offered reluctantly at the deadline, as I still wasn't quite satisfied after half a dozen drafts. Others I wrote in one swift draft and was completely satisfied. But overall, when I look back at two decades of film rev

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A (Temporary) Farewell to Film Review Work

Writing, I find, is a joy and an adventure. But it's not much of a job. In fact, you need another job in able to afford to do it.

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Over the Moon: A Critic in Top Form

Sure, there are some critics out there who strive to seem superior to others. But most critics are just fans of movies... such big fans that they like to examine and talk about everything that's in a movie. Today, I came across a reminder of what a great critic can accomplish.

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On "Difficult" Movies

As we're in a season busy with film festivals, I'm reading reviews of what sound like extremely challenging movies. Some of those reviews sound like the kind of comments that might provoke filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami to repeat what he said here...

Overstreet's Books

Gratitude for Thoughtful Reviews of The Ale Boy's Feast

As a reader in a community of readers, I know that all of us have unique responses to the books we read. My opinion of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or No Country for Old Men or Never Let Me Go will be different from yours, even if

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"Only a Lover Can Be a Critic."

Only a lover can be a critic. Elijah Davidson is talking about the question that will direct our discussions at the upcoming Reel Spirituality event: Is film criticism dead? The question has been coming up a lot lately. That's why I wrote a "Letter to a Young

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Ongoing Lies and Distortions from Movieguide

Exposing the latest exhibition of the ignorance that pollutes so much of the material published at Movieguide, Steven Greydanus published this article about The Rite and Movieguide's review of it. Interesting timing. The misguided work of Movieguide has been brought to my attention a lot lately. Just a

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Film Critics Say the Dumbest Things...

John Podhoretz: If you told me you didn’t like movies about boxing, I’d have to answer that you didn’t really like movies. This inspired the following reply at artsandfaith.com: If you told me you didn’t like movies about murder, I’d have to answer that

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The most revolting movie commercial I've seen.

"Bones" is a TV show I rather enjoy for the clever banter, the amusing actors, the slick effects, and the humor, But last night's episode was sickening. It was one big commercial for Avatar. The characters discussed their excitement about the movie incessantly. They stood around

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Reconsidering Basterds, and Catching Up with Rightwing Film Geek

Is it wise for me to tell you that my opinion of Inglourious Basterds has changed dramatically over the past few weeks? I don't have a review yet to back up that claim. I keep starting to write one, and then my thoughts and feelings continue to evolve.

Roger Ebert

"Snob!"

Been called a snob lately? Roger Ebert has. I feel for him. I've been called a "snob" many times for giving "ho-hum" or "don't bother" reviews to popular movies. And I've been described as a "snob"

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"Snob!"

Been called a snob lately? Roger Ebert has. I feel for him. I've been called a "snob" many times for giving "ho-hum" or "don't bother" reviews to popular movies. And I've been described as a "snob"

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An Enemy of Serious Film Criticism?

Here's Brett McCracken on Movieguide's ongoing campaigns of preposterous "film criticism." Earlier, Mark Moring's post at CT... in which the comments became lively, especially when Movieguide's Tom Snyder showed up to call Moring's post "a silly article&

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Strange Critical Behaviors, Case 120809a

Whenever I ask a question about the strange behaviors of critics and their tendency to write things that exalt their own discernment, I point that shotgun right at myself. But I'm becoming increasingly aware that there's a difference between making useful observations about art and making

Roger Ebert

Have You Done Your Critic Exercises Today?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMlioyKsaQg

C.S. Lewis

Don't Tell Me How to Feel. Make Me Want to See.

My pal Ron Reed posted this quote over at ArtsandFaith.com. I'd read it before in one of my favorite C.S. Lewis volumes, Letters to Children, but it's always a good reminder for writers, whether they're beginners or not... In writing, don’t

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"Why do you have to analyze everything? Why can't you just enjoy it?"

Recently, I encountered someone who was clearly disgruntled by the mixed reviews of the movie Fireproof. He responded to the critics' observations by declaring that reviews aren't really important... that "the success and value of the film" would ultimately be determined by "ordinary people&

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10 Ways to Be a Better Film Critic

Evan Derrick's "10 Ways To Be a Better Film Critic": Part One and Part Two. This is quite a read, and I like a lot of what Derick's said here. And hey! He even praises my friend Greg Wright! Think about your favorite film

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Statler and Waldorf - Heroes for Critics Everywhere

Were these the most influential role models of my childhood? Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for discovering this.

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Michael Leary's Film-think; "No Country" Re-examined

Nobody I know takes the question "What is Christian film criticism?" more seriously than Michael Leary. And so I'm thrilled to find him starting up a new site ... film-think where he's posting his thoughts on movies. Check out recent posts on * Paranoid Park * The