As the theatre season is winding to a halt over Christmas, it looks like my first 'review' will be of a film. Actually, I'm not sure about using the word 'review' for so many reasons (Cowboy Mouth & I have had many conversations about the difference between a 'reviewer' and a 'critic', with me at one point suggesting that a 'critic' is merely a 'reviewer' who is doing their job correctly). Well then, this is not a 'review' nor a 'critique'. In this case just my personal impressions before I fall asleep and turn off the computer (probably in that order).
Ever since I saw All About My Mother (1999), I have relished getting to know Pedro Almodóvar's colourful, stylish and touching work. However, Volver (and its predecessor, Bad Education (2004)) were both enjoyable yet somehow underwhelming. Volver brought to mind Hitchcock in many of its imaginative shots and themes (think The Trouble With Harry or Spellbound) and even the score. The story concerns the mother of two sisters returning as a ghost and helping sort out the problems she left unfinished in her life. Unlike Hitchcock, the problem with this story was in the telling. There are a few plot turns and developments that are telegraphed to you pretty early on, and so I lost a lot of interest early on (not that this film is a mystery or thriller by any means). It's hard to fault a film with fine performances (Cruz is very good, as is Carmen Maura as the mother), good direction - it's all there. Missing, perhaps, is Almodóvar's cheeky sense of fun found in his earlier films. Still, pretty enjoyable overall, I'm just holding Pedro to a higher standard.
Again, just some random thoughts there - mainly for Vlad who I know is dying to see it.
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11 comments:
a 'critic' is merely a 'reviewer' who is doing their job correctly
Quite! (LOL)
I reckon a review is a part of journalism and a critique (I hate the word) is part of the art form. Meh...
Maybe a critic is someone who gets paid for their opinion? They're not necessarily any better than reviewers...
Sure it's not the other way round Lisa? The real criticism (in the thoughtful, constructive sense of the word) comes from people with passion about art. (Like Alison at Theatre Notes.) Reviewers do it for the money/tickets/freebies/work... or the power trip.
I'm a reviewer, Chris, and I don't get paid. I wouldn't consider myself a critic, however, because I'm more interested in capturing the mood of a show and letting the reader/audience member decide whether or not it's the type of show they'd enjoy. For example, a lot of critics hated Not Like Beckett because of its bad puns and misogynist jokes, giving it a bad review. I focused on the Wonderland atmosphere created by the writer and director, while mentioning some of the puns/jokes within that framework. People have different tastes, which I think is why it's more important to be a "window" into the show, rather than be critical of it. If this makes sense!
I wonder if the critic/reviewer is even in control of the name of their occupation anymore? I'm sure many reviewers consider themselves 'critics' and vice versa. I get the feeling the word critic has a tinge of snobbery about it - I think some people elevate 'reviewers' they admire to 'critic' status, believing this will make their commentary more valid. I wonder how many people would be able to [correctly] differentiate between when they are reading a 'review' nd a 'critique' anyway?
From the geek witin I offer this:
Review: A general account or criticism of a artistic work.
Critique: An essay or article in criticism of an artistic work (with a hint of - passing judgements upon the quality of the work)
So a critic would be someone who offers a more detailed analytical and evaluative view... or at least that would be my guess.
That being said, I much prefer 'a 'critic' is merely a 'reviewer' who is doing their job correctly.'
**definition from super geek dictionary 'The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary'
First up, forgive us for hijacking your post... tell us when you get sick of us bangin' on about crits.
Lauren, I feel entirely out-geeked! (And I have an ironing board that doubles as a lectern... it has five dictionaries on it at the moment, including the first two editions of the Australian Oxford Dictionary and the monster 2200-page Maquarie International!)
Random thoughts:
Jim Schembri gets paid, that doesn't make him a critic! ;-)
Can we agree that Adrian Martin is a critic and Jimbo isn't? That's not to say that a reviewer is necessarily 'inferior' to a critic... (Just here!)
What Lisa does -- giving a taste of a show to someone who might be interested in seeing it -- is so useful. It also captures something of the production for history. And, yes, it really is reviewing.
You're quite right, r/speak, in saying the critic/reviewer isn't in control of billing. I used to call myself a critic when I met 'talent'. Not to freak people out, but to try to reclaim the word. It has such baggage these days. It didn't always mean "negative bastard".
But, yeah, I'm with Lauren. Your definition is far-and-away the best I've seen. (And still makes me smile.)
Hijack away! It's good not having to come up with interesting topics myself (if anything it distracts from my appalingly sparse Volver rev.. er 'thoughts' quite nicely.)
And nobody out-geeks Lauren. You haven't seen her play Monopoly.
Inspired by the freedom to offer windowlike viewpoints to a general audience, I am going to publish my review (read: overview with little insight) on Act One of Matasaburo. It will be swell, not sweltering.
Ah okay, so a review should be interesting to someone who hasn't seen the performance, while a critique should be interesting to someone who has? :):):)
Bonjorno, stoppanicking.blogspot.com!
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