tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post5034741631256642171..comments2024-03-15T04:08:16.172-04:00Comments on Only the Cinema: Everything Is Cinema and Criticism Is NothingEd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-21824240523261186262011-12-22T13:07:42.039-05:002011-12-22T13:07:42.039-05:00I think people are too hard on Zacharek. She's...<i>I think people are too hard on Zacharek. She's a wonderful writer, and certainly entitled to her opinions. I find the "anti-intellectual" attacks to be somewhat specious -- as if, because she has a different take on a director than you, she just must not be that bright.</i><br /><br />Zacharek is anything but a "wonderful" writer, and 95% of her opinions are cribbed Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-20780387590315341062010-11-03T07:05:04.574-04:002010-11-03T07:05:04.574-04:00Ed, would you please do a response to the anti-sem...Ed, would you please do a response to the anti-semitism claims against Godard circulating in the US media at the moment? I think it's important that the smart people who like Godard make a stand at the moment.<br /><br />On a lighter note...I'm composing a best x5 (60's to 00's)<br />- 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her <br />- Tout va bien<br />- Passion<br />- Nouvelle vague<br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07597340547945476521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-85389802457798474112009-11-02T08:16:32.190-05:002009-11-02T08:16:32.190-05:00Thanks for stopping by, Anon. I've actually re...Thanks for stopping by, Anon. I've actually read other pieces by Zacharek that I like, but this particular essay was a response to a specific piece of writing by her that I objected to. And I object to her review not because she disagrees with me about Godard, but because she offers no real rationale or substantial criticism to support her position, instead resorting to ad hominem and Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-28166643758609412632009-10-30T22:02:15.735-04:002009-10-30T22:02:15.735-04:00Obviously I'm late to the game, but I think pe...Obviously I'm late to the game, but I think people are too hard on Zacharek. She's a wonderful writer, and certainly entitled to her opinions. I find the "anti-intellectual" attacks to be somewhat specious -- as if, because she has a different take on a director than you, she just must not be that bright.<br /><br />Zacharek DOES tend to prefer movies on the more "Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-47736773148876786622009-01-02T22:49:00.000-05:002009-01-02T22:49:00.000-05:00Fantastic dissection of a shallow "criticism", som...Fantastic dissection of a shallow "criticism", something that is seen too often in glossy magazines today. <BR/><BR/>On point I wanted to make involving this quote...<BR/>"Godard may have been less accommodating towards his actors, as evidenced by his rather shabby treatment of Fonda, but then this is not a particularly uncommon phenomenon amongst directors."<BR/><BR/>Absolutely true. I assume Carson Lundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10164962777812861110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-29092267299889704352008-08-15T06:30:00.000-04:002008-08-15T06:30:00.000-04:00A Great blog, thanx, life is absolute as cinema is...A Great blog, thanx, life is absolute as cinema is life (in somehow) people are still under control of companies and idot politicians and killing each other so keep on watchin dudes.<BR/><BR/>keep on blogin friend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-23867553399300456672008-08-05T22:16:00.000-04:002008-08-05T22:16:00.000-04:00Indeed. "It's Godard! Who were you expecting? Hugh...Indeed. "It's Godard! Who were you expecting? Hugh Hudson?"DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-67730398942877537002008-08-05T21:18:00.000-04:002008-08-05T21:18:00.000-04:00I've noticed as I get older I find myself gravitat...I've noticed as I get older I find myself gravitating more and more towards Godard's post 68 work as opposed to the earlier pictures I initially fell in love with. <BR/><BR/>I'm more than a bit floored by Zacharek's article and greatly appreciate your take on it Ed. <BR/>Godard has made some of the most remarkably alive and vital productions I have ever seen since 68, and I can't comprehend suchNostalgia Kinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506680500183270767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-63806839283556649782008-08-04T22:50:00.000-04:002008-08-04T22:50:00.000-04:00Sometimes when I come across longer articles and e...Sometimes when I come across longer articles and essays in blogs, they become a little too long and hard to follow; I am happy to say this was a huge exception. This is GREAT writing, and even better reading for all of us. I've heard a lot about Brody's book but haven't been following this firestorm of criticism coming from it.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you about Schickel...it would be like Gene James Hansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09650436008918093617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-45562165048304153632008-08-04T17:53:00.000-04:002008-08-04T17:53:00.000-04:00Good work. I'm just sorry to see Notre Musique dis...Good work. I'm just sorry to see Notre Musique dismissed as a "shadow box" by a critic who didn't get it. One quote from that film I've been using for years: "Everyone talks about the key to a problem, no one talks about the lock" is demonstrated by the way the New York Times can sweep aside four decades of an artist's work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-89292495700519617282008-08-04T00:13:00.000-04:002008-08-04T00:13:00.000-04:00Dare I say you might be too harsh with Zacharek. ...Dare I say you might be too harsh with Zacharek. Clearly someone ignorant to the majority of Godard's work -- as well as why they are important -- Zacharek doesn't need someone to reveal that she's drowning in her words. Anyone who really cares about Godard won't take her glib statements seriously.<BR/><BR/>Still, with so much of Godard's output unavailable, Zacharek's comments don't help at Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-41215577484601537062008-08-03T02:23:00.000-04:002008-08-03T02:23:00.000-04:00Thanks for the comments, everyone.Movieman: Schick...Thanks for the comments, everyone.<BR/><BR/>Movieman: Schickel's review is so obviously idiotic it's barely worth responding to, which is probably the reason why Zacharek's more modulated take is receiving more of the flak. Schickel's argument basically boils down to saying that cinema is much less than Godard thinks it is. He thinks "aesthetic conservative" is high praise, and that it's a good Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-25061355349311434862008-08-03T01:24:00.000-04:002008-08-03T01:24:00.000-04:00That's a great writeup Ed. Thats how film criticis...That's a great writeup Ed. Thats how film criticism/appreciation ought to be done; something the so-called film critics earning big money from swanky newspapers must learn, even though i really don't see that happening, not in the near future.Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-3873523833550807502008-08-02T22:12:00.000-04:002008-08-02T22:12:00.000-04:00A most excellent critique. One thing I would add ...A most excellent critique. One thing I would add to your comments is how trivially so many superficial critics treat the careers of film directors (and other people in the industry). It's not just Godard:<BR/><BR/>1. notice how few people detect how great Chabrol has been over the past few years.<BR/>2. how completely ignored Rohmer's towering meditation on politics, Triple Agent, was due Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16615199937354749817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-83540064415403385812008-08-02T22:09:00.000-04:002008-08-02T22:09:00.000-04:00Ironically, Zacharek has an article on "The dissap...Ironically, Zacharek has an article on "<A HREF="http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2008/07/24/film_critics/" REL="nofollow">The dissapearing Movie Critic</A>" where she blurbs it: "A study finds fewer women writing about film for top newspapers. But the big news isn't the gender of critics -- <I>it's the poor health of the profession</I>."<BR/>(emphasis mine)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-55691421824842734822008-08-02T19:14:00.000-04:002008-08-02T19:14:00.000-04:00if this is what passes as print film journalism in...if this is what passes as print film journalism in this country then perhaps it's better the profession died after all...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-1132163261939934042008-08-02T18:32:00.000-04:002008-08-02T18:32:00.000-04:00Schickel is a hysterical right-wing asshole. He's ...Schickel is a hysterical right-wing asshole. He's been around since the dawn of time and consequently is first in line to review movie books. He thinks Gadge deserved a metal for being the ratfink that he was.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-26186289513023910192008-08-02T16:48:00.000-04:002008-08-02T16:48:00.000-04:00That's Shickel, not Schike, obviously. The review ...That's Shickel, not Schike, obviously. The review is here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-bk-brody6-2008jul06,0,144920.storyJoel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-40480300039702436192008-08-02T16:44:00.000-04:002008-08-02T16:44:00.000-04:00P.S. If it's a question of critical methods, I can...P.S. If it's a question of critical methods, I can see why Zacharek (with her flippant assertions) is getting the most flak but I actually have stronger objections to Richard Schicke's take on Godard (which dismisses his entire ouevre and approach, not just the unfashionable past 40 years). Care to comment on that one?Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-9263510127141790862008-08-02T16:41:00.000-04:002008-08-02T16:41:00.000-04:00Enjoyed your "Letter to Stephanie." Given the perf...Enjoyed your "Letter to Stephanie." Given the perfect storm her review has stirred up, I wonder if she will ever see fit to follow-up. After all, she's taken a pretty harsh lambasting in the blogosphere.<BR/><BR/>For what it's worth, I enjoy reading her - I find her prose entertaining and refreshingly frank. However, this sometimes leads to a dearth of critical depth. I wouldn't want Zacharek to Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-69063659063950665642008-08-02T15:30:00.000-04:002008-08-02T15:30:00.000-04:00Thanks a lot for posting this - I'd be inclined to...Thanks a lot for posting this - I'd be inclined to say it's one of the best things you've ever written. It's good that someone finally took the time to rip Zacharek apart. She's one of those Paulettes that makes no effort to cover it up and develop her own style and opinions. Zacharek one of the many big-name anti-intellectual critics whose poisoning the very art of film criticism. <BR/><BRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-7965708199259306702008-08-02T14:01:00.000-04:002008-08-02T14:01:00.000-04:00No kidding, man. It's not even that Zacharek misun...No kidding, man. It's not even that Zacharek misunderstands Godard. It's that she doesn't even bother to do that--though I also wonder how much was cut by pull quote-friendly editors.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129058171665032525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-15457431285878273702008-08-02T13:36:00.000-04:002008-08-02T13:36:00.000-04:00Ed, a wonderful essay that grapples with what film...Ed, a wonderful essay that grapples with what film criticism really is and discusses intelligently those things Zacharek wouldn't or couldn't. I'm not very familiar with the body of Godard's work, so I can't join the discussion at that level. I can, however, discuss the exigencies of writing for a newspaper. <BR/><BR/>Very few newspapers employ true film scholars for the simple reason that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-89103288032521426692008-08-02T13:23:00.000-04:002008-08-02T13:23:00.000-04:00What's really funny about Zacharek claiming to lov...What's really funny about Zacharek claiming to love <I>Breathelss</I> anddrawing the line in 1967 is that back in the 60's the conventional critical attitude towards Godard qas that he never made anythin g onf interest after <I>Breathless</I>. When Susan Sontag wrote her great impassioned defense of <I>Vivre sa Vie</I> it was a film utterly despised by "serious" critics and journalists alike. <BRDavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-31285293761707994362008-08-02T12:37:00.000-04:002008-08-02T12:37:00.000-04:00Thanks for writing this, Ed. This kind of anti-int...Thanks for writing this, Ed. This kind of anti-intellectualism is, as you mention, all-pervasive, and needs more thoughtful responses like the one you've given here.Marc Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716565601744200287noreply@blogger.com