...in the exciting world of film criticism, but some are more so, thanks to the weight of institutional authority. Such is the case with one of the most embarrassing movie reviews I've ever read, David DeWitt's
inane take on Oliver Laxe's
You All Are Captains for the New York Times, which, among its other sins, seems not to understand the work in question one jot.
I can say this because I've actually seen the film - which plays for one week at New York's invaluable
Anthology Film Archives - and contributed my own modest take for Slant Magazine, one of five reviews I published this week.
New Releases
You All Are Captains (Slant)
Being Elmo (Slant)
Oranges and Sunshine (Slant)
Cargo (Village Voice)
Elevate (Time Out New York)
Though not exactly a "new" release, Jeff Nichols' Take Shelter, the subject of my recently posted "webtakes" review for Cineaste Magazine, is one of the year's finest - and may still be playing at a theater near you. At any rate it's far preferable to The Rum Diary, Bruce Robinson's unsatisfying attempt to further mine the Hunter S. Thompson legacy for cinematic fun and profit.
...in the exciting world of film criticism, but some are more so, thanks to the weight of institutional authority. Such is the case with one of the most embarrassing movie reviews I've ever read, David DeWitt's inane take on Oliver Laxe's You All Are Captains for the New York Times, which, among its other sins, seems not to understand the work in question one jot.
Although my previous post seemed to announce an end to my New York Film Festival coverage, a pair of last minute assignments for The L Magazine means I get to weigh in on two more items, Alexander Payne's surprisingly decent The Descendants and the dreadful silent film pastiche The Artist.
As this year's New York Film Festival nears its close, my last batch of reviews has been posted. While not covering any masterpieces such as The Turin Horse (see previous entry), this set of pieces spotlights at least one very worthwhile film.
