Comments on A Life In Film: Sydney Film Critics: Best of 2010

"- the lack of diversity in the film critics ...

2011-01-18T13:58:35.338+11:00

"- the lack of diversity in the film critics gene pool. Too many of us are white, middle-class, educated urban males. Is it so surprising that they liked Kick Ass?"

*Modified this comment for truth*

I think that's potentially attributable to thr...

2011-01-03T21:16:13.349+11:00

I think that's potentially attributable to three factors:
- the lack of diversity in what is released theatrically in this country. I noticed that in France this year, the top ten lists were very different from one critic to another: it helps that many more films get theatrical distribution there in a given year.
- the lack of diversity in the film critics gene pool. Too many of us are white, middle-class, educated urban males. Is it so surprising that we all like the same films?
- the hype machine has become very good at putting forward films as " the best of the year", spending a lot of money to ensure that the message is picked up far and wide. The professional media seems to buy the message wholesale without giving it a lot of (critical) thought.

Maybe it's just that 2010 year was a consensual year, but more likely the consensus is reached because they are the same 10-20 decent films that everybody has seen.

One thing I'm finding really interesting about...

2011-01-02T10:52:02.458+11:00

One thing I'm finding really interesting about top ten lists for 2010 is everyone generally has the same films. I can't remember a year in which so many best of lists looked identical. Social Network, Inception, Animal Kingdom, Toy Story 3, etc.

I'm not making a judgment on whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is pretty interesting.

What an interesting array of choices here. I'...

2010-12-31T07:20:39.496+11:00

What an interesting array of choices here. I'm inclined to side more with the Sydney critics than with most of those here in the states. (Though now, looking at what they've picked for their best "unreleased" films, maybe not....)