Released in early September, noted British film critic Mark Kermode followed up It's Only a Movie with another rant-filled tome entitled The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex. At Edinburgh International Book Festival, tour dates across the UK, and podcasts across the interwebs, Kermode has offered verbal versions of his proselytizing about the lost art of film projection, the state of British cinema, American remakes of perfectly good foreign films, and more.
The book offers much of the same, acting as a detailed written basis for his Wittertainment soap-boxing and all manner of excuses for a good whinge. While we've all heard the Zac Efron anecdote and 70s stand-up style slagging of minimum wage cinema workers thousands of times, there are topics of note hidden in the later chapters of this latest book. 'Why Blockbusters Should Be Better' became the basis for an excellent article (published in the Guardian) and discusses the state of modern blockbuster cinema and tales of big-budget movie-making gone awry, plucking some choice anecdotes from film history and serving them up as caveats to some interesting points.
However, more often than not the rants and reservations ('The Inevitable Decline of 3D', anyone?) are over-argued by our friendly neighbourhood quoiffed berater. The extension of such arguments gives Kermode's (admittedly niche) audience little credit, as Wittertainment listeners and Kermode Uncut viewers have heard it all before. Stretching some over-used material out over 250 pages leaves a well-worn tether, but there are, nonetheless, gems to be found in the pages of this extended oration.
Stout fans and light readers will enjoy another episode of hand-flap free rants and raves from one of Britain's most reputed and lively film critics. But let's not hold our breaths for part three.
Want to read The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex for yourself? I'm giving one copy away!
For a chance to win, all you have to do is
- Comment telling me your favourite Kermode-ism OR just tell me your favourite film of the year so far.
For additional entries, you may
- Tweet the following: 'Win a copy of @KermodeMovie's The Good The Bad & The Multiplex at Uncultured Critic! http://bit.ly/qeptoa'
- Follow Uncultured Critic on or Google Follow (to the right -->. Please mention in your comment that you've done this).
The competition will close on Friday 21 October. One winner will be chosen at random.
Good luck!
This is the best review of anything, ever.
ReplyHas to be Sex and The City 2
ReplyMainly because he says it WON'T be a rant!
Totally following on Facebook too.
Hello to Jason Isaacs!
Henry - Good choice! Sometimes words are overrated.
ReplyTom-chaps - Ahh, if there's one film that inspired a thousand great reviews in the past decade, it has to be Sex and the City 2. Good luck guys :)
My favourite film of the year this year so far was Hanna, which I saw three times.
ReplyFavourite film of the year is still Senna (shhh, don't tell my pal Harry Potter)
ReplyStef :)
Nicola
ReplyI've really enjoyed about half a dozen of those I've seen this year: Cave Of Forgotten Dreams is the only film to genuinely make a case for 3D, besides being a classic Herzog meditation; Submarine's an amazing debut, with a truly original original soundtrack; The Skin I Live In is Almodóvar having 'fun' at the top of his game.
Yet, in the spirit of the book you're offering to send out I'd have to say that my favourite film of the year is Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, an excellent film unashamedly putting the pop into popcorn. Even Dr Kermode would agree, should he ever get round to seeing it...
Not sure if it counts as a Kermodeism, but I love his pure hatred for Danny Dyer, and his weird impression of the man. I also love that the impersonation has led to an escalation of tension between the two, and now Danny Dyer has openly threatened to hurt Kermode. I think this event should mark the critic's foray into film writing, and he should write a Dyer-style straight-to-dvd film about the saga. And as a reconciliatory gesture, Kermode should let Dyer play himself.
ReplyAlso- my favourite film of the year so far is Midnight in Paris. A great length, funny, good performances from all involved, a nice message at the end, and impressive cinematography.