For the Love of Movies SxSW Review

Published by Jeff Leins on March 18, 2009

A common counter-criticism of film reviewers is the notion that we’re all failed filmmakers, each bent on enacting our revenge on the industry with furious fingers.  As if these cynical respondents have forgotten their weekends spent groaning while watching sports or nitpicking the fashion faux pas of Hollywood starlets.  “You couldn’t do any better.  Why don’t you try making a film?” comes the cliché challenge.

Gerald Peary, a 30-year veteran in the film critic business, accepted that challenge boldly and devoted eight years of his life to the topic he’s clearly most passionate about: movies.  The title, For the Loves of Movies, says it all.

It is an exploration of cinema and the history of its criticism made for and about the people who absolutely love movies.  Bloggers serious about reviewing film should see this movie, if only to get a sense of the timeline they are joining by typing up their thoughts instantly online.

However, this documentary won’t play well among the hordes of general public who tend to ignore critics in favor of formula flicks or blindly succumb to tactical targeted marketing.  If you don’t read reviews, then don’t see a movie entirely about them.  It’s that simple, and the same reason I don’t seek out special features on the generations of NASCAR.

The opening sequence displays a quote that says film criticism is “under siege” before tallying the numbers of print critics who have lost their jobs in recent years.  It later expands on this, suggesting the profession is dwindling because of the endless supply of web critics or that marketing materials only draw attention to sound bites and catchy quotes.

But before it theorizes on the modern state, the film teaches the history of film criticism.  Peary, who also doubles as a professor, is entirely absent from the film (even in voiceover) shying away from the spotlight just as he did at the festival screening and panel.  Instead Peary interviews veteran journalists and presents researched material, mapping the influence of great writers and separating them into eras of an evolving livelihood.  Classic film footage is spliced with spoken reviews that combines the art of criticism with the visuals of film, finally joining what is traditionally and inherently a cause and effect.  A divide over auteurism shaped the landscape of criticism just like the digital divide separates it today.

One element remained the same over time though.  Reviewers from every era helped champion the new wave of cinema and recognized under-rated talent from overseas or indie productions.  Persistent praise from established fans elevated the best and captured the simultaneously changing world of cinema and culture.  Film criticism has and will always have a place as long as movies are made.

As a film critic and an aspiring professional journalist, I enjoyed the film.  But if you aren’t completely in love with movies like I am, For the Loves of Movies may not be for you.  Or you’re welcome to watch it and go trash it with your friends.  After all, everyone’s a critic.

3.5 out of 5.