Which is the last Bollywood film you saw ?

[equanimus]

That is to say, that comment is not at all why I actually dislike his writings in the first place. So yes, you're right that, as a standalone comment, it's nothing more than way off target.

[lydayaxobia493]

ZNMD must watch at least 5 times...wonderful movie

[kid-glove]

What I'm trying to say is. People stripping WA of his Jewish Manhattan background, his own physical-intellectual equation, etc, is beginning to trouble me, as well. This is true of any filmmaker. Be it Scorsese, Spike Lee, Lumet, Coppola, their class, race & intellectual leanings (be it through books/interviews/wikipedia) enriches my understanding of their films, relationships, class conflict, and heck, "their" NY.

And a critic's job is to make sense of it. He has to filter through filmmaker's glasses, not just his. Let's assume the person is urban middle/upper middle class chennai PSBB-ian. How he would have filtered it through his own glasses, stripping it off the intended nuances & meaning (P_R's eyes widen up), is easily revealed in his reviews. Now, if I could identify with this person, I would identify with his position on the filmmaker/film. Unfortunately, the only feelings I hold to him/his critiquing is amusement, with a tinge of aversion. And to me, these days especially, it's getting harder & harder to identify with most critical positions. I have to really, really identify with the critic first, or at least be convinced that the critiquing isn't defaced of the presupposed conception & choices made by the writer/filmmaker. At least, a gesture of acknowledgment, would suit fine. Perhaps it's also the style of writing that bothers me.

[P_R]

sabbaas...nallavarundra.

[equanimus]

Unfortunately, the only feelings I hold to him/his critiquing is amusement, with a tinge of aversion.

I didn't get the overall drift, but why do you assume (if you do) mine is any different? I've never so much as mentioned him just to make a deriding remark!

[kid-glove]

No, I got that. Just unwinding my own feelings on this issue. Btw, have you tried his philums?

[P_R]

I don't quite hate his writing as many of you do.
But then I don't follow film reviews closely - either his or BR's or anyones. Opinions and discussions I have here
(I read Confli's express reviews every week - adhu vERa department)

When I read it a newspaper review I simply want to know what the film is about and whether it is 'oru thadavai paakkalaam' or not.
I find the star ratings, vigadan marks and telling-the-story all quite useful.
Of course, all these are things reviewers are lampooned for doing. But hey, I am just a ruthless, short-on-attention reader.

'I think I get why you are saying what you are saying. I know what to expect' is the kind of reaction I have to reviews.
So from a purely utilitarian PoV, I am hardly ever as annoyed as you guys are, after reading his reviews.
And when he cruelly rips apart a film, sometimes it is quite fun. adhu thozhil dharmamA etc. are not things that interest me.

I remember the social irresponsibility rant about 7G. 'vazhippOkkan sollalaam, oru critic ippadi sollappadaadhu' 'ngra maadhiri ellAm naan react paNradhu illai.

[equanimus]

Hate ellAm strong word. Even I don't. Just that I feel free to be annoyed by patronising reviews such as his. "'vazhippOkkan sollalaam, oru critic ippadi sollappadaadhu'" 'nnellAm sollalayE. yAr sonnAlum kELvi kEkkaRadhu dhAn. (nAn vItlayE ippallAm silarai vidaRadhillai... vayasAyiduchillaiyA.)

[Bala (Karthik)]

Venkiraja
Haven't you read the jokes/cliches about boyfriend/girlfriend, girlfriend is right, custumber is king etc?
And ennanga modern interpretation? Moonu perum wimps (Sudhish hates wimpy portrayals) on a Vikraman scale - here the problem is not portraying a wimp, at a time la moonu perukkum lined up-aa similar events, similar wimpy reactions, and then a closure Chetan Bhagat would have been proud of. WA comparison ellaam pesave vendaam, adha vidunga - Idhula engerndhu complex unraveling of women, relationships ellaam?
And nayagan sogathula guitar-a eduthu vaasikka aarambikkaraaru, sevuthulayum kadhavulayum Pink Floyd - idhukku namma Sudhish "has an uncompromising vision and confidence to switch from laugh-out-loud comedy to indulgent drama to angst-ridden rock" !!!!

Actually indha padatha paathu pengal offend-aavaangala?

[Bala (Karthik)]

Equa
Regarding the point about class , just a guess - i think it may be something personal to him. Based on some experience(s), perhaps... Kindal adikkanum nu sollala, baadhikka patrukkaar nu nenaikkaren