Ryan McNeil
Last night, I came home to find a card slipped under my apartment door. The card was from our neighbours two doors over – who we’ve never met. The card said:
“Your Christmas lights bring us great joy & pleasure when we walk home from work at night. Thanks.”
To say that the note gave my wife and I a smile would be putting it mildly. How many of us take the time to write someone a positive note anymore – by hand at that? Who thinks to approach someone we don’t know and give them a morsel of positivity? If we’re all being honest, we know that we don’t do these things as often as we could (myself included). Likewise, if we’re all being honest, we know that we don’t hesitate to complain when things aren’t going our way. The reason is simple – it’s easier to be negative than it is to be positive.
So it goes with discussing movies.
My friend Jessica openly asked on Twitter yesterday:
“I can’t wrap my head around why film fans these days seem to be disappointed about every film they see. Do you even like films anymore?”
I wish people could talk more about movies they love and less about the ones they hate. Your disappointment brings me down”
What Jessica is seeing is the movie geek version of the complaint letter versus the appreciative note. It’s something that creeps into our passions and has gained a great head of steam in an age where everyone with access to a keyboard has a voice. People watch movies and voice disappointment against expectation…or wail on execution…or pummel the work with negative hyperbole…or derail the conversation with endless tangents of comparison…or descend into unabashed nitpicking. All of this is coming from so-called “movie lovers”. Why? I repeat: it’s easier to be negative than it is to be positive.
To champion a film requires taking a stand. I’m not talking about a film the zeitgeist agrees “is awesome” (read: THE AVENGERS). I’m talking about something that has an array of positives and negatives. To champion a flawed film requires conviction that its virtues are worth more than its missteps. In short, it requires faith – and in a cynical world, people tend not to wear their faith on their sleeve. People would rather heckle from the back of the auditorium than stand on the stage, microphone in hand professing their faith.
Now to be fair, there are plenty of corners of the internet for that sort of discussion. If that’s what you want to spend your time doing, I wont stop you. I will, however, challenge you. The next film that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, look at that moment as a chance to push the discussion towards better things. It could be a moment to nudge someone towards a film that has similar themes, but better execution. Likewise, it could be a moment to extol what the film did well instead of what it did poorly. Isn’t it the mark of a talented debater to be able to argue either side of the issue?
I suggest these ideas because I think about what it is we as film-lovers and would-be critics are supposed to be taking away from this medium that we love. We are supposed to be moved, inspired, distracted, and entertained. We are supposed to be baited into seeking more. If we aren’t coming away happy more often than not, then I suggest that the issue is not in the medium, but in ourselves – in which case we should find something different to do with our time and money.
If one does consider oneself a would-be critic, then it is not only in the job description to tear down, but also to build up. Since a critic is exposed to so much more of whatever it is they critique, they are granted the vocabulary to spread the good news to anyone who comes in search of enlightenment. And there is always good news to be spread…always new things to try…new stories to hear. Whether they are new or old, a good critic is always armed with the good to outweigh the bad. If they find themselves without a movie to sing the praises of, they should get out of the game. Criticism and cynicism should not be mutually exclusive.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect every conversation about film to sound like testimony (I say that as someone who has just come off slamming a new release). What I do expect – or at least what I hope – is that the good can start to outweigh the bad. That we can find the energy to slip the happy notes under our neighbours doors, and just let the complaint slip away for once.
As the film so many of us claim to love said:
“I think positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time”
Jessica has started something 🙂
I’m not afraid to love movies which get a general trashing. For example I really enjoyed John Carter. I always try to look at the positives, but some movies you have to point out the bad things!
Sorta funny that we’re at the end of the year and CARTER – which was the worst thing this side of GIGLI if you believed the stories at the time – has been all but forgotten. I found things to like about it too actually. It’s a mess, but not the steaming pile that some would have you believe.
This is why I rarely ever write reviews of films I didn’t like/love in my blog. Even though I get angry or disappointed or irritated by films, and I really do, I don’t see any point in bashing them. Even the truly terrible ones get points for just existing, because films are magical and someone with a vision has made an effort to make them.
I guess this whole business is how Anton Ego describes it, “We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read.” It is fun, but it should have a basis.
“Even the truly terrible ones get points for just existing, because films are magical and someone with a vision has made an effort to make them.”
That’s exactly how I feel too, but people make me feel like I’m too nice because I approach my blog that way.
I like that approach Nik – your silence speaks volumes. It’s not like you wouldn’t share your disappointment if asked about it, but by choosing not to go out of your way to voice it, you’re walking down a better path.
As for critic quotes, my favorite one comes from CLOUD ATLAS (which will come your way in the spring I imagine) – “What is a critic except one who consumes quickly and arrogantly but never wisely”
What a wonderful story about the happy note under your door! I loved, loved, loved this post. I slip in this aspect too from time to time, picking up a negative mindset and looking too much at the flaws and too little at the good stuff about movies. But I try to improve and this post gives me inspiration to keep doing that!
BTW I was also inspired by our tweet conversation and have a post up about it today!
Your post was what helped inspire this post, along with that thoughtful handwritten note.
Don’t worry about “picking up a negative mindset”. I worry more about those who argue for the negative more than the positive, so as long as you’re staying on the sunny side of the road more often than not, I believe you’ll be just fine.
There are a lot of films that I like that the consensus thinks are “terrible” films. These include all three of Michael Bay’s Transformers films, as well as most of the filmography of M Night Shaymalan (though I somewhat joined the consensus with The Last Airbender).
I write negative thoughts when I have to, but I also encourage people to still see the film if they really want to.
Also, don’t get me started about how Twitter has influenced film opinion. I’d be rich if I got a dollar for every negative reactionary tweet about a film I read.
I should also add that many of those tweets are from the same people (some of which you know).
I joined Twitter in August of 2011 and within one month, I noticed exactly what you’re talking about. Part of me thinks people aren’t aware of the persona they give off when their tweets are strung together.
AMEN brother! You and Jessica bring me hope. The cynicism has been hampering my movie-watching mood lately and posts like these remind me why I started blogging in the first place. A friend asked me the other day on twitter “Are you going to do a worst films of 2012 list” and it just hit the wrong nerve with me. I said “no, but I will be doing a Best of the year list”. It seemed like I lost his interest there. The “best of” list wasn’t as interesting. He had just posted his “worst films” list and it seemed like that gave him the most joy as a blogger. To me, that’s just the wrong attitude.
I think in the entirety of this site and its predecessor, I’ve only done one “worst” list. It was around the end of 2009 and it was dedicated to the worst of the decade.
I did it only to sum up the films I thought were the biggest waste of time and money. Interestingly, most of the entries on it were old films that I saw while my taste was still being shaped. I haven’t done any others. Like you, I don’t see any merit in it.
Ryan, it’s been interesting lately because I don’t find myself being as critical about a lot of the movies I see, particularly in the theater. There are exceptions (Gigli for example) where the film is so bad that I can’t help it. I think one of the reasons for this trend is that I’m not seeing as many new movies. I’m being more selective about what I choose to go see, so the odds are better that they’ll be good films.
Getting to your main point, it’s tricky because I do feel that film criticism is important. Good writers can really dig into a movie they didn’t like but still have a lot of intelligent things to say to spur discussion. What really bugs me (especially on podcasts) is when people dismiss a movie by just saying “that sucked” and accept it like it’s 100% true. Go a little deeper, film fans!
You sorta touch on an underlying point: As much as I think it’s important to try new things, I think we need to know ourselves. I get the impression that half of the negativity is a resentment against our time being wasted.
So, if we’re so concerned with our time being wasted, perhaps it’s better to leave the things that aren’t up our alley alone and only chase them down if someone says there’s something specific in it for us. Why be a lemming and hand over your hard-earned every Friday? maybe it’s better to take a queue or two from a reputable source.
You’re right in your latter point: Discussing a film’s missteps is an important part of the critical conversation. And you’re right again in saying that it should be done more respectfully.
When I see “that sucked”, I always wonder if the person would have the stones to say it to the artist’s face.
“Whether they are new or old, a good critic is always armed with the good to outweigh the bad. If they find themselves without a movie to sing the praises of, they should get out of the game. Criticism and cynicism should not be mutually exclusive.”
I think this line sums it up perfectly. The one complaint I have with those who are frequently say “there is nothing good out in theatres” or “Netflix Canada is crap” is that their views are often based on the number of “high profile” (i.e. big budget) titles out. They are so busy chasing the “new” that they are oblivious to the wide range of films out there. Whether it the indie and/or foreign gems, or the older film that offers insight into cinema’s history, there is so much to explore and consume. Granted not every town has access to smaller films in the theatre but with streaming services and the local libraries there are tons of options still available. People also need to realize that, unless they are getting paid to review, they do not need to review and/or comment on everything they see. While social media has allowed many of us to connect real time, it has also become a large vessel for self-absorbed cynicism. I have no problem with people expressing their dislike for a film in a way that is constructive. It just annoys me when people go to town on a film, Battleship or That’s My Boy for example, when they could have easily spent that same money on films like Bernie, The Imposter, or renting a classic that they have never seen before.
Interesting that you bring up Netflix – I was just saying to Jess yesterday that part of the reason why I’m happy that I’m NOT on Netflix is that I’d never be able to decide on a film.
Hell, my PVR is filled with movies I’ve recorded off TCM but haven’t watched yet…you want to hand me access to thousands more?
I think that’s what streaming services like Hulu, netflix and Amazon offer the average user in a smaller market: access to smaller-but-equally-rewarding titles that will never play their commercially driven multiplex.
Hopefully,users can start knowing to filter past the mainstream releases, and find the good stuff!
Another problem that I encounter a lot is that I will write positive reviews and get derided for it just as much as if I wrote a negative review for a well-loved film. I’ve been the brunt end of tree related film jokes for years because of my love of Malick, and my championing of Speed Racer and Southland Tales has become another running gag (albeit, one I helped perpetuate).
I think I have a reputation for being negative because I get dismissed when I love things as being silly or hipster. Statistically, I bet the amount of negative reviews I have constitute less than 25% of my site, but they tend to either coincide with popular Hollywood films or classics that spurn fans to decry my criticisms. In other words, I think some blame should be placed on readers for seeking out and pursuing more negative reviews while ignoring the many positive reviews. It also doesn’t help that most of the positive reviews I write are for films that are for a very small readership. I may write 4 positive reviews in a week and one negative one, and the negative one will probably be the one with the widest viewership.
Anyone who derides you for being positive is an asshole. You can tell them I said so.
I’m not talking about trolling for attention by being a consistent contrarion, I’m talking about standing up and saying “I know y’all didn’t like ABRAHAM LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER, but I loved it”. If you’re being honest, and can discuss how you got there with half-a-measure of intelligence, then the person tearing you down is an asshole.
I wouldn’t say you have a reputation for being negative – matter of fact, you’re one of the writers I turn to for clarity. I don’t see blockbusters as being “your thing”, but that too is good since the blockbusters you do like feel like they’ve touched on something more.
Sadly, you can’t control what people will read…so stick to controlling what you yourself write.
I love lamp!
But seriously, even though I’ve shifted focus lately, I think my reviews tend to be about 50/50. I think the reason negative reviews are so compelling to me to write is because when I dislike a movie that everybody else seems to like I am BAFFLED. I write about my confusion over why other people love something so much that I dislike so strongly.
But inversely, when I LOVE something other people hate, I don’t bother jumping to defend it because I’m confident in my liking of the film. Like Drive for example, I love it so hard that I don’t need to justify it by arguing, it’s a clear LOVE situation.
I think ambiguity is a reason people write or debate a lot of time. If there’s a movie I’m wavering on, THAT will be the one I discuss/argue/write about 90% of the time. I see writing and discussion as a way to work through one’s ideas, so if I’m mulling over a film I’m not sure I like, or a film I know I HATE, writing clarifies the thought process.
I meant to say “I think my reviews tend to be about 50/50 but obviously they are not”, somehow I forgot those words! Important!
…and there’s nothing wrong with getting into the “I know y’all loved it, but I didn’t conversation”. The key is tone and respect.
In the two years or so that I’ve known you, I think you’ve used the right tone for both positive and negative reactions…but a lot of others of our ilk tend to lean on hyperbole a lot more and that’s when things get silly. Happily, you don’t fall into that trap.
You mention DRIVE, go take a look at my review for that – it’s a film I wasn’t as crazy about as the rest of the world, but I didn’t feel the need to tear it a new one. MONEYBALL too.
Box-office websites don’t aid the matter either. With so much importance being placed on what a film takes over the weekend, everyone scrambles to find reasons that a particular film didn’t make a billion dollars.
It’s the Nikki Finke effect.
Sort of a different animal, but you’re right.
To that end, I’d suggest tuning into the Mamo podcast. They talk about the business and reaction end of movie going a lot, but tend to do it from a place of curiosity and respect.
This is a post that I’ve been waiting for. While there are a few films that I dislike that often summon up some writing out of me, I’d say that I pretty much love 80% of the films I watch. When I was younger, I used to love everything I watched, because films were magical to me. They still are, but being in the blogging world has kind of lowered my tolerance for films like That’s My Boy and Total Recall. Also, my love for films is one of the reasons why I’ll never refer myself to as a ‘critic’. I’m merely a blogger who enjoys films, even if they’re flawed, not someone who feels the need to pick holes. That’s the reason I loved The Dark Knight Rises so much and gave it 5/5 despite the fact everyone has gone off it and those ‘plot holes’ were a huge problem (I’m aware of some of them, but does that make it lose points? No). It reminded me of why I love going to the movies, and it ended a spectacular journey. It got a lot of crying out of me, and if a movie makes me cry, then of course I loved it.
Also, I love movies so much that I really don’t like it when the word ‘hate’ is used around them. I’ve never really hated a film, nor do I like to say “I *hate* that film”. Why use that word to express something you supposedly love.
Oh, and I really don’t like it when people go out of their way to dislike movies that the general consensus of people like. Especially if they go out of their way to advertise that fact.
Anyway, very good post!
Makes me pretty proud to hear I’ve written something a reader has been waiting for. Let me go one further and address your position specifically.
I read the comment you made on Jessica’s post, specifically what you went through when sifting trough TDKR reactions.
The next time that happens – and it will, I promise – dig your heels in and fight back.
I’m on your side: a lot of what was being said after that film dropped was silly. The conversation wasn’t about what message Nolan was trying to convey, or what themes the plot did or didn’t explore…the conversation was “where did he find time to douse the bridge in gasoline?”. That’s asinine. It’s a fine point to bring up if we’re joking around over beers, but to bog down podcasts and reviews with it misses a greater opportunity.
If you’re in the camp that thinks that sort of talk serves no purpose, and is turning minutiae into mountains, then I vote you take on all comers. Pick up your mic and say “Y’all are missing these bigger ideas. I dare you to stop the jokes for a moment and tell me I’m wrong”.
You might be surprised how many others rally behind you.
Agreed. I’ve always been of the opinion that even the worst of films have something that you can latch on to to keep you watching and I like to try and point these out in reviews. Bashing films is cheap and easy and if it’s really so reprehensible why did you sit through it to the end?
Saying that I do feel sometimes I’m overly generous. It’s very rare that I ever lay into a film and give it 2 stars or less. I think I enjoy watching films too much to hate any of them. Even films I have slated in the past have been watchable, so what’s to truly ‘hate’?
Plus I can usually tell if a film definitely isn’t going to be my thing by the nature of who it’s aimed at or by getting a sense of content from descriptions/reviews, so I purposefully avoid watching films that I’m clearly not going to enjoy. Yes you can be surprised sometimes and the marketing doesn’t always reflect the content, but say when Britney Spears’ ‘Crossroads’ came out, I knew that wasn’t a film for me, so I didn’t bother watching it. If I had, I’d have probably hated it.
It does frustrate me how angered people can get at films, just because they didn’t provide exactly what they wanted. Those people should go and make their own damn film and see how difficult it is to get everything right.
It’s funny because right around the time I wrote this, I had to wail on two films that I thought were misfires. With my own words ringing in my ear, I tried to find a way to talk about each that still offered up a chance to talk about what it is I love about film on the whole. So for instance, there were no complaints of being bored.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being generous. It just tells me that you are able to really break a film apart and see things it has to offer that others might not see.
On the micro level, I agree with you: it’s easier to tear down than to be build up, critics and/or bloggers should be suggesting alternatives instead of just knocking what’s there, and personally I don’t feel the need to write up most of the stuff that disappoints – I’d rather advocate for what I like.
In the big picture, however, I think there are a lot of problems with contemporary cinema on a number of levels and applaud efforts to point that out. What I really don’t relate to is the notion that growing frustrated with the movies one sees is a sign of insufficient love, instead of a passion so strong that you want movies to be what they could be.
I feel that, approaching films from a filmmaking (as well as film-watching) sensibility, the best approach is to criticize when necessary, but to do so constructively. I welcomed David Denby’s recent film-culture critique but he didn’t quite know where to go in the end, essentially suggesting a return to the past which is unlikely and perhaps undesirable.
Not sure if this has much to do with what you’re talking about here, which seems more focused on responses to specific movies than ‘the movies’ in general. But I think cinematic dissent is as vital as social dissent, and at times I detect a ‘love it or leave it’ vibe among the comments here which perplexes me.
I disagree. I don’t think there are problems with contemporary cinema. The problem comes from the contemporary cinema we choose to consume. The cinematic culture is SO vast now – with so many voices from so many places adding to the conversation. If one thinks that the Hollywood Studios aren’t saying anything worthwhile anymore, I wouldn’t completely disagree. But if that’s the case, turn your attention to what international filmmakers are doing, or independent filmmakers.
If you don’t like the conversation, change the conversation. Point me towards a film that I might not know about. Perhaps it’s something that is akin to a big studio production, but subtler and with more nuance.
Dissent can be a useful tool, but dissent turns into disgruntlement so easily nowadays that I believe a different course is required.
Fair points – I should have written “contemporary narrative Western cinema” as I think Asian, Latin American, and documentary cinema are as strong as ever.
I also agree with your latter point wholeheartedly, though I would add “make” the films as well as “point toward”, and I think a combination of inventive new filmmakers and perceptive new critics/bloggers can help change the conversation. It’s certainly something I hope to explore in both venues, though I’m at the barest .00001% tip of the iceberg in the former case particularly. Still, gotta start somewhere.
It doesn’t surprise me at all that there’s so much negativity:
– There are a lot of bad movies in theaters now (and by “now” I mean at any given time).
– It’s easier to describe failure than elucidate success.
– The online culture rewards snark and punishes seriousness.
Like Jessica I prefer to bring more joy and less gloom into my life. Especially when it comes to something I control like what movies I watch and what critics I read.
You’re right, there are a lot of bad movies now…unfortunately the spirit of negativity also trickles down to classics, and reactions to them from those who “don’t get it”.
In those cases, I feel it’s better to ask questions and start a dialogue, as opposed to getting up on the soapbox and stating negative opinion.
There’s definitely a difference between being critical and negative, and I think it’s important to consider that difference when writing a review of a film you didn’t like. I watch a ton of low-budget movies, but I always try to be fair, especially considering how varied production conditions can be on those kinds of movies.
That being said, some movies just inspire negative reviews, and I think both sides of the spectrum are equally important feathers in a reviewer’s cap. Negative reviews of movies that people generally like do seem to get the biggest responses, though. It’s unfortunate, but it seems to be the case.
But as for championing movies that others hate, I’m all for that; I do it regularly!
There’s definitely a difference between being critical and negative, and I think it’s important to consider that difference when writing a review of a film you didn’t like.
Well said.
Sadly, I think too many would-be writers just get cuaght up in the fun of shredding something.
This is a really good post that makes me really examine what kind of film fan am I. The only time I tend to get negative on a movie are ones that looked very good in the trailers and ads but turned out to be a disapointment for me. At the same time I love it when I see a movie I think will be bad but turns out to be good. I will never say that a person’s opinion about a movie is wrong and that I am right. Sometimes reading different opinions about movies helps makes me a better movie fan because maybe someone wrote something about a movie I never thought of before.
Funny you mention this, because I’ve noticed that things can get interesting when audiences are subject to a bait-and-switch. They think they’re sitting down to see one thing, turns out it’s something totally different.
I actually like that, since I so rarely get surprised anymore…but others feel duped. Dif’rent strokes, I suppose.
As for a film looking good in the trailer but disappointing, I’ve tried to advocate people dialing that down. Hollywood has started running us through a hype machine, and it so seldom yields true results. There’s very little that can ruin a film more than expectation, so if I could offer a word of advice it’d be to start checking expectations at the door:
You’ll find it allows you to enjoy the films more fully.
I want to hug this article. I have a lot I want to say about it but mostly right now I’m just really happy to see someone else express this. You’ve made my day, Ryan.
This would, by the way, make for an awesome Podcast topic.
Hug away sir, hug away.
I’ll see what I can do about spawning a podcast on it – my little on-the-fly discussions have fallen off the wagon recently. Maybe this will get me back on track.
I didn’t realise that so many film folk were thinking about this issue (or some tangent of it), but I’m glad.
As I’ve mentioned recently on my own space and Jessica’s – I don’t like this trend of people who claim to be film fans taking a sort of subversive glee in finding things to dislike in films. I find it strange and for me it destabilises the ideology of a film lover. Not that I expect a film lover to love every film, but I expect a film lover to look for things to love not for things to hate.
But, it’s something difficult to reverse when “critics’ tropes” include things like: “It’s okay but it’s no X.” I think there’s always space for comparison in critical film writing, but when the base line always seems to be condescendingly something “good” to something it wasn’t “as good as” it seems counter-intuitive. If you love film, just love film.
It’s the subversive glee that needs to stop. It’s funny amongst ourselves, but just becomes negative noise when it’s all melded together on Twitter, Facebook, and the like.
Did you ever see that episode of ‘Community’ when Pierce studies to heckle a bad film, and then he just rattles off smartass remarks with no timing or wit? After a while it feels like that.
It’s a cynical world, so I don’t know if standing up and saying “Make your jokes, but this is good” will ever catch on…but it won;t stop me from trying.
Thanks for stopping by.