Entertainment Critics Who Can't Write a Review

North Conway, New Hampshire
February 12, 2016 7:45am CST
Ever look at a movie or theater review in your local paper and shake your head? I do that on a regular basis with the local newspaper here, The Conway Daily Sun. I had no formal training in writing when I ventured into the world of movie reviews back in the early 2000's, just what I had been taught in high school. The site I wrote for was very good at teaching me what not to do as a community. That's why I can't understand how someone who writes like this is employed still. We had much better writers on our website who were getting paid pennies per review. One of the first things I learned was not to regurgitate the entire plot of a movie or play. It's not just a matter of spoilers, but giving your audience enough information that they want to see the movie or play without giving away the entire thing. This can be a delicate balance, for sure. I spent many nights rewriting how much I wanted to give away and trying to figure out how to highlight something without revealing the entire plot. Someone who is considered a professional writer should be able to do this as well. However, almost every review by this person regurgitates the entire plot, especially when it comes to plays. Another thing I learned quickly was to always put in a disclaimer of any association to the reviewed work. If we were comped a book for a review, we noted it. If we received advance copies of a film to review, we noted it. If the book in question was written by a friend or acquaintance, we acknowledged it. It's just the proper thing to do so people can take your review in context. That doesn't happen here. The author of these reviews is literally in bed with one of the community theater companies in town. His wife has acted in their plays and done choreography for them. Her name always gets a mention, of course, but he doesn't note the connection. This was also the theater where he held his wedding. How much do you think he is going to criticize their work? I have never seen a negative review, and it's not due to their glowing performances. One I was finally enticed to go to was supposed to be a "rollicking comedy" which I ended up falling asleep in. On the other hand, another community theater routinely gets looked at much more critically. There was a young adult production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe that was very ambitious for these kids. The way it was reviewed by him, you'd think he was expecting a professional Broadway production. There are so many great writers out there who can't find work, I don't understand why someone as sloppy as this stays employed.
10 people like this
7 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Feb 16
I have written countless reviews and it is very difficult not to fall into the trap of regurgitating plot. I am guilty of it especially lately when I compose quickies and you would dislike them. My approach to reviews often depends on the forum and audience. Look, Rogert Ebert is considered one of the greatest of all film reviewers and was forced to admit writing reviews to movies he had not seen so no reviewer is infallible.
3 people like this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
15 Feb 16
I review books I read for book club (mostly just for my own memory) but I've learned a trick to reviewing without giving away - I take my notes right at the start and write the "plot / intro" part before I get too far into the book. Then as I read I'll make notes about what I thought of the book at 50%, 80% etc. I find this way I only end up giving away the very start and not ruining it. Frankly I don't understand people who write reviews and give the entire plot - that is also the same reason I typically don't read reviews if it is something I already know i want to see.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Feb 16
@PatttiN That is why writing a review sometimes requires taking into account what you are reviewing. When reviewing Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams or any well known classic, you do not review but the work itself but the production.
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
12 Feb 16
I hope you and your friends bombard the paper with letters to the editor.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
12 Feb 16
@PatttiN I'd write a letter to the editor every time this happens and tell some friends to do the same. It's a shame to retell the whole plot.
1 person likes this
• North Conway, New Hampshire
12 Feb 16
They got bombarded the time he skewered that kids production. The rest of the time, not so much. There was just another review today, of Equus, the regurgitated the entire plot. I haven't seen it. If I was inclined to see it, I'd like a teaser of what it's about and why it's good, not the whole damn story.
1 person likes this
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
27 Nov 17
Sounds like the so-called critics we have here. I can't really put a lot of faith in whst they say when they write reviews of restaurants and movies.
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
12 Mar 18
I also wanted to add, Mike / horrorgeek always has 'choice' works for so-called critics
@moirai (2853)
• Philippines
20 Sep 16
Ah! It's a good thing I don't get paid for writing movie/book reviews. Because I expect I would definitely be one of those who finds it hard to decide where to draw the line in regurgitating the entire plot. Haha. This is why I prefer calling what I write (somewhere online - just personal blogs and stuff) as 'recap/reviews' or 'reactions' and not simply 'reviews'. Because my main purpose in writing those is to say what I thought of the movie/tv show/book. And, of course, I make it known that it's going to be spoiler-filled. But the one you are describing is different. First off, that's his job. He should do his best not to inject bias into it. And unless I am mistaken, his purpose probably should be to just give readers an idea of what to expect so it helps them decide whether to see the production or not. For that, he should definitely try to keep certain plot points hidden.
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
12 Feb 16
What I want to know is—where do I get a job like that? But seriously, that's too bad. I remember how hard you worked on you Dr. Who stuff at Eps w/o the fringe benefits this reviewer gets. Unless there's something you're not telling us...?
2 people like this
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
12 Feb 16
@PatttiN That's all we need.
• North Conway, New Hampshire
12 Feb 16
As far as I have learned, there's nothing else. I've thought too that he must be related to someone to keep that job. At epinions his stuff would have been SH or NH when people found out his attachment without disclosing it.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Feb 16
Favoritism is certainly showing here. I suppose those who read the reviews don't know of the connection. Yea that's not right.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (118917)
• United States
18 Feb 16
I hope that somehow the newspaper sees this!