comment #1

Monument says ...

Her summation of Jeff is exactly why this is my favorite film site. Keep it up Jeff.

comment #2

JD says ...

Thompson is definitely the most level-headed of the high profile movie bloggers and for that she deserves lots of credit. I choose to believe -- though I may be wrong -- that Jeff's most outlandish opinions are totally insincere and written for traffic and attention. I don't know if that's better or worse than actually meaning it, though.

comment #3

James says ...

I think that's pretty unfair, JD. Yes, his opinions probably generate site-traffic. But I don't think he would be garnering the support he's getting (by the likes of Thompson and site-traffic) if it were not for his (to me) obvious sincerity. Indeed, one of my favorite things about Jeff is how he will back track, give a movie a hard time sight-unseen because he's getting certain rumblings in his gut for whatever reasons and then later post a rave review (as with Atonement and Beowulf). Don't we all do this from time to time? At least within our own hearts and minds?

Jeff puts his impulses and passions out there for us to sift through in all their messy glory. I, for one, find that much more interesting in an art critic than someone who might be more "level headed."

comment #4

JD says ...

I know you do, James, which is precisely why Jeff writes the way he does: it drives traffic. I didn't say it was a weakness, but for every rational and insightful Jeff Wells piece, there's a sensationalistic and downright primitive-minded piece, muddled by stereotypes and prejudice. As a reader, I find both sides interesting, but I rarely agree with the latter.