VIFF 2009 | For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism at Schema : more than ethnic

VIFF 2009 | For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism

For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism
USA, 2009, 81min
DIR: Gerald Peary

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The first of its kind, For the Love of Movies chronicles American film criticism from its humble beginnings to its position today as a major influence on how films are received. Several critics who have become household names are interviewed including Roger Ebert, A.O. Scott, Lisa Schwarzbaum, J. Hoberman and Harry Knowles.

Gerald Peary opens with a nostalgic look early films' awe-inspiring abilities. Critics reminisce about the "good old days" while charming vaudevillian piano plays in the background. Significant players are recognized and their contributions to the history of American film criticism commended, from Manny Farber's poetic voice to James Agee's bridging of high- and low-brow media; and once again with Bosley Crowther's air of politics to Molly Haskell's contribution to feminist criticism. Schools of thought begin to emerge in the early 80's, as the audience is introduced to Andrew Sarris' advocation of the auteur theory and Pauline Kael's rejection of it.

For the Love of Movies delivers an informative look into how film criticism provided an outlet for individual voice and unique styles of writing that flirted with poetry and prose. Finally, the film recognizes how, like so many other practices of its kind, film criticism has also fallen rival to the emergence a new digital era and the DIY generation.

Upcoming Screenings:

Sat. Oct. 10, 6:45pm, Pacific Cinematheque
Sun. Oct. 11, 3:45pm, Vancity Theatre