Movie Critics a Dying Breed
Many Reviewers Finding Themselves out of the Job Thanks to Internet
May 24, 2008
As online use becomes more and more popular, traditional means in which to obtain information are beginning to die out. One such species who is next in line for risk of extinction is the movie critic. As audiences are demanding quicker approaches to finding out about upcoming films, they are turning to the Internet over the printed or spoken word in order to get their answers.
When They Once Ruled
The opinion of the film critic was once highly regarded, especially those A list movie critics like Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in the 90’s. Their warmest opinions of the films they reviewed even made it into most TV trailers for the films they saw. Today, audiences rely on movie websites like Rotten Tomatoes and the Internet Movie Database which give a general rating of a film. Modern audiences seem generally disinterested in the reasons behind why a film should been seen or avoided.
Print articles are even less relied on than Ebert and Roeper are today, and many big name critics are even finding themselves out of the job because of this. In the last few months, Newsweek has let go David Ansen, and Newsday bought out Jan Stuart and Gene Seymour. The Village Voice laid of writer Nathan Lee, and a number of other critics found themselves in the same position, no longer needed at the publications where they worked.
The Value of the Internet
These critics have found their educated, high paid opinions being overthrown by voluntary peer reviews that any old person can post online, demonstrating that the once valued opinion of a professional no longer holds up in today’s film world. This new form of communication is a major change in the evolution of film criticism.
Film Critic Organizations
Though film critics have been around since the invention of the film, in 1966, the National Society of Film Critics was founded by a group of New York City based film critics who had been denied membership into the New York Film Critics Circle. This group was led by critics Hollis Alpert and Pauline Kael as well as Newsweek writer Joe Morgenstern and Richard Schickel who wrote for Life Magazine.
They also founded the society in order to take down the influence of New York Times critic Bosley Crowther in order to give multiple perspectives in the New York City film critic scene, which had been dominated by Crowther for years. This well respected group is now one of many film critic organizations to be overtaken by the power of the Internet.
A New Wave of Evolution
However, the process of film criticism has been evolving for years. Siskel and Ebert were the first to develop a ranking system using their trademark “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” approach, based on the ranking that Roman rulers would express during gladiator fights. This began the process of ranking a movie as good or bad, though the men still gave reasons behind their decision. It was inevitable that one day, explanation would be wiped out all together.
