That’s how long I need to determine whether a film is any good or not. Actually closer to two or three minutes. Same thing when reading a script — the first five to ten pages tell the tale.
Many people (some from the HE commentariat) say “no!…ignore your intuitions and instincts and tough it out…you owe this to the filmmaker.” Well, that’s one way to respond but it’s a terrible thing to sit through a film that you know is doomed from the start.
Many times I’ll perceive early on that a film is iffy or unsure of itself but is nonetheless up to something interesting or thoughtful or even a bit strange. These are the movies I’ll stay with despite the speed-bumps.
