tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215151356083666218.post6165122200146944395..comments2023-11-23T01:17:42.499-08:00Comments on Ten Best Films: Ten Best Films of 2001Michael J. Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12333893240336518881noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215151356083666218.post-70276358568668660112010-01-24T01:59:39.731-08:002010-01-24T01:59:39.731-08:00The problem with this is pretty basic: Commenting ...The problem with this is pretty basic: Commenting on films without having a sense of concept of what makes drama work or what makes a performance work is like commenting on food and being unconcerned with taste.<br /><br />Mulholland Drive for instance, is the film that convinced me that David Lynch is no longer the same guy who directed Blue Velvet. It's a masturbatory output without any semblance of pace, climax or dramatic tension. I'd go further but I'm pretty sure I'd convince you of nothing. It's like arguing with an English major over what makes Shakespeare special. The English major would argue that it's his amazing use of iambic pentameter while I would say that the gripping silent conflict between Hamlet and Claudius makes the play. Unfortunately performers don't have a voice in film reviews, the English majors do. This strikes me as odd since when I watch a football game the commentators are former players. When I see a cooking competition the judges are chefs. When I listen to the people talk about the stock market on the radio, they are investors. Yet film is somehow the only medium that has escaped this.<br /><br />Quite honestly, I haven't read the rest of the site and based on your picks for 01, I can't imagine we'd ever agree. Yet by making fun of my taste in films (which I'm assuming you're getting from some sort of blog account I have, I can't remember creating one in at least five years so I'm not sure how recent it is) you do nothing to disprove my argument. I love Willow. Is it a flawed film? Of course, but I can't help but enjoy it. As far as books go, I'm sure you'd rather see me put a David Sedaris title there but once again, quiet snobbery doesn't mean what I have to say is wrong.<br /><br />In any event, everyone's entitled to their opinion, I've certainly voiced mine.Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863529284273608325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215151356083666218.post-47132057033051145262010-01-23T20:27:10.989-08:002010-01-23T20:27:10.989-08:00Dear Erik,
To answer your question, outside of a ...Dear Erik,<br /><br />To answer your question, outside of a single student movie - and a third grade play - I have not performed.<br /><br />Also, your criticism that I don't seem to have a cursory understanding of drama may be accurate, but I am not entirely certain that it is something that can be inferred from this post (or really any of the posts on this site). In reality, I say next to nothing about performances, which certainly signals an omission, but does entail a misunderstanding. Let me put it this way, I would ask how you know what I understand about something I don't talk about (or in other words, about which I do not offer my understanding - limited though it might be in reality)? You see the problem I suspect.<br /><br />Ultimately, this site may not be for everybody - such as for those who include "Willow" among their favorite films and number "Jaws" among their favorite books. A different kind of taste is at work on this site.Michael J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12333893240336518881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215151356083666218.post-75102324297212597132010-01-23T17:07:30.448-08:002010-01-23T17:07:30.448-08:00Out of curiosity have you ever performed in your l...Out of curiosity have you ever performed in your life? <br /><br />As a professional actor with a degree in theater it doesn't seem that you have a cursory understanding of drama. It seems, like most film majors, that you look at it from a literary perspective.<br /><br />But seriously, have you ever performed before?Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863529284273608325noreply@blogger.com