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Criticism is an Art.

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August 2013

August 22, 2013

The Quotable Renshaw

One of this film critics' favorite quotable quotes comes from Roger Ebert: "A movie is...

January 2013

January 31, 2013

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....

January 26, 2013

In Honor of Sister Rose Pacatte

I'm delighted to see people taking notice of Sister Rose Pacatte, who goes about her...

January 18, 2013

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...

January 10, 2013

A (Temporary) Farewell to Film Review Work

Writing, I find, is a joy and an adventure. But it's not much of a...

January 05, 2013

Over the Moon: A Critic in Top Form

Sure, there are some critics out there who strive to seem superior to others. But...

September 2012

September 20, 2012

On “Difficult” Movies

As we're in a season busy with film festivals, I'm reading reviews of what sound...

August 2012

August 22, 2012

Mystery and Message, or What We Talk About When We Talk About Art

No one has taught me more about considering and making art than "Mr. D." That's...

April 2011

April 09, 2011

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...

March 2011

March 21, 2011

“Only a Lover Can Be a Critic.”

Growing up, I loved Siskel & Ebert & The Movies, because unlike the entertainment reporters...

January 2011

January 31, 2011

Ongoing Lies and Distortions from Movieguide

Exposing the latest exhibition of the ignorance that pollutes so much of the material published...

January 04, 2011

Film Critics Say the Dumbest Things…

John Podhoretz: If you told me you didn’t like movies about boxing, I’d have to...

December 2009

December 04, 2009

The most revolting movie commercial I’ve seen.

"Bones" is a TV show I rather enjoy for the clever banter, the amusing actors,...

September 2009

September 15, 2009

Reconsidering Basterds, and Catching Up with Rightwing Film Geek

Is it wise for me to tell you that my opinion of Inglourious Basterds has...

July 2009

July 06, 2009

“Snob!”

Been called a snob lately? Roger Ebert has. I feel for him. I've been called...

February 2009

February 23, 2009

An Enemy of Serious Film Criticism?

Here's Brett McCracken on Movieguide's ongoing campaigns of preposterous "film criticism." Earlier, Mark Moring's post...

January 2009

January 08, 2009

Strange Critical Behaviors, Case 120809a

Whenever I ask a question about the strange behaviors of critics and their tendency to...

December 2008

December 01, 2008

Have You Done Your Critic Exercises Today?

November 2008

November 29, 2008

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...

October 2008

October 04, 2008

“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...

July 2008

July 06, 2008

10 Ways to Be a Better Film Critic

Evan Derrick's "10 Ways To Be a Better Film Critic": Part One and Part Two....

June 2008

June 17, 2008

Statler and Waldorf – Heroes for Critics Everywhere

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

March 2008

March 06, 2008

Michael Leary’s Film-think; “No Country” Re-examined

Nobody I know takes the question "What is Christian film criticism?" more seriously than Michael...

September 2007

September 20, 2007

On Criticism

My good friend, Mike Demokowicz, a photographer and educator who has taught me a great...

April 2007

April 02, 2007

Are Movies Increasing Your “Capacity to See”?

At Long Pauses, Darren Hughes has posted a quote that I want to share with...

February 2007

February 27, 2007

Have We Lost Our Minds?

If you've been reading the CT Feedback page and reading this blog, you've seen a...

February 20, 2007

Should Christians Give Christian Movies Rave Reviews?

If you've been reading this blog recently, you know that Christian film critics sometimes get...

February 16, 2007

Are Christianity Today’s Movie Reviews Written With an "Anti-Evangelical Agenda"?

As you may already know, this week a radio talk-show host accused Christianity Today Movies'...

January 2007

January 25, 2007

Eugene Peterson’s "Eat This Book" … and Moviegoing

I am finding Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book to be a particularly inspiring meditation on...

November 2006

November 26, 2006

Film Critic Pet Peeves: “The Fountain” Edition

Just ranting about another film criticism pet peeve... Don't you hate it when a critic...