Exasperation
This is a generic point, but you can't write a pan of a film you've only seen 60% of, or even 90% of. But I've always maintained it's permissible to say, "I blew this film off after 20 minutes and here's what led to me to this." That said (and this is also an old riff), if a film isn't working I'm fairly sure of this ten minutes in. After fifteen minutes I know it absolutely. After 20 minutes I'm leaning forward and cupping my face in my hands. After a half hour my knees are bouncing up and down. After 40 minutes I'm looking at my watch and calculating how much longer I can stand. And anybody who says they don't experience similar things while watching an incontestably bad film is being dishonest.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 10, 2006 at 1:02 PM
comment #1
Dixon Steele
says ...
Maybe you should try switching to decaf.
Sure you can tell an absolute stinker early on. But Jeff, I'm sure you've slammed, in print (as I consider your blog) some pictures that you've walked out that weren't and you didn't have the patience or interest in, for whatever reason.
And that ain't right.
Posted by Dixon Steele
at September 10, 2006 1:16 PM
comment #2
MathewM
says ...
I forced myself to sit through Serenity the other night. Reason being number one at least my brother thought it was crap too so we had some fun with it. Number two, I was watching it in HD on an eight foot screen. I was amazed when I check Amazon that there are huge fans of it....
We followed it with a screening of Temple of Doom. I have to say I love that film. I know most people, at least film snobs like Wells hate it but I'll be damned if it's not the most politically incorrect, fiercely paced, entertaining, beautifully photographed film in Spielberg's canon.
Posted by MathewM
at September 10, 2006 4:29 PM
comment #3
EDouglas
says ...
I was called for including a movie I walked out on of as my #1 worst movie one year, but I kind of had to walk, because I was laughing so hard at how bad it was that I was disturbing the other critics in the room.
I still walk out of things from time to time, usually after an hour or more when I know that there's no way it can be saved (bad writing, acting and direction is not something that just suddenly improves in the middle of a shoot--if the premise doesn't work, it's doubtful I'll want to know how it ends)... but I've learned not to mention in the review that I didn't stay til the end. :)
(I've been doing it less lately, but I tell you, the few times I've stayed when I felt like walking, it didn't make me feel any better about the work sitting at home not getting done.)
Posted by EDouglas
at September 11, 2006 4:14 AM
comment #4
Cadavra
says ...
I have what I call the "King Kong Rule." In the original version, Kong does not appear until the beginning of Reel 7, about 50 minutes in. Thus anyone who left after 49 minutes would never have seen the title character. So I feel most movies deserve at least 50 minutes before bailing.
Posted by Cadavra
at September 11, 2006 3:50 PM