Are Kiwi films treated differently?
When it comes to the role of the film reviewer, I'm with Pauline Kael: The critic is the only independent source of information. The rest is advertising.
For those interested in what goes on in the mind of a Kiwi film critic, it's worth noting that we reviewers tend to get beaten up whether we're perceived as being too hard on a film or too kind. I'm sure I've been guilty of both in my time, as has every other film reviewer on the planet. That's the point, a review is not objective - it's one person's opinion.
I think with the maturing of the industry and the longer experience of film critics (especially those working for longer-established media), you get a more realistic view.
The younger and newer the reviewer, the more likely s/he is to want to make a big show of smashing a movie in some wittily lacerating way, or, alternatively, waxing hysterical about some silly old load of cobblers.
I know, I've been there... when you're younger, you know everything. It's only later that you realise you don't even know how much you don't know.
This week we've got Predicament opening, which, in the wake of the phenomenal Jurassic Park-beating success of Taika Waititi's Boy at the Kiwi box office, will be hoping for even a taste of that.
Predicament is the first fully funded feature film from Jason Stutter, the director who brought us the super low-budget Tongan Ninja (funded largely by his credit card) and last year's Diagnosis: Death.
Predicament is far more grown-up, with great production values and a gorgeous Kiwi-gothic feel about it. In 1930s smalltown New Zealand, a dweeby teenager gets caught up in a cunning plot to blackmail local adulterers, but it all goes horribly wrong.
It stars Jemaine Clement, Heath "Chopper" Franklin, Tim Finn and newcomer Hayden Frost, who looks a lot like the director...
Rialto Distribution hopes Predicament, its latest New Zealand release, will top $500,000 at the box office. It opens wide on more than 50 screens this week after featuring in the NZ Film Festival.
However, the little Kiwi battler faces some big blue competition. Also opening this week is another movie with local links, a special 3D edition of Avatar with an extra nine minutes of footage that producer Jon Landau says are evenly spread throughout the three-hour blockbuster.
(Hope my five ticket winners got your double passes OK...)
"The scenes don't just feel like added scenes - they are very organic to the story and embellish it," he told The Hollywood Reporter.
Here's my review of Predicament.
If you were convinced of the argument that Kiwi films get off more lightly when reviewed by Kiwi critics, then I'm sure Niki Caro will tell you otherwise...
But do tell us what you really think: Are Kiwi critics kinder on Kiwi films?
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Saw this at the festival. Obviously a Film Commission ploy to market a dud. Unwatchable should be the title. Lame performances, esp from the "celebrities." Most unfilmable of Morrieson's novels. "The Scarecrow" is a masterpiece still, and way back in the 1980's, this film was accepted into the Director's Fortnight at Cannes. Billy T James saved "Came a Good Friday." Reason why these adaptions workED is that they are "funny." This latest attempt tries too hard. I think Margaret you should raise your critical stakes and stop reviewing American films. They dont rule the world. As you know!
Kiwi Film Critics are not the brightest in the World. They seem to think that readers are only interested in Multiplex Crap. Most of them dont bother to review Kiwi films, features, documentaries, shorts. This latest attempt is almost unwatchable. Saw it at the Auckland Festival. Both LISTENER and HERALD reviewer panned it heavily.
Are Kiwi critics kinder on Kiwi films?
In a word, absolutely not. Oops. That's two words. Sorry. But yes, the answer is categorically "NO". Which even a cursory stocktake of reviews will establish. The reasons for this are beyond the scope of a comment box, but somewhat rooted in our perennial 'chip on the shoulder' attitude towards all artists and how they represent our local hopes and dreams in a wildly competitive international environment.
Its not that reviwers are kinder, but I think there are lower expectations from a NZ movie. It won't be the next Titanic (or even Avatar), but nor will it be the next Heaven's Gate.
@Costa #4 - I'm with you on that one...there are also quite a few critics here who seem to get to review films but are more celebrity-loving journos rather than ones who are knowledgable about filmmaking and/or the NZ and overseas industries.
I wouldn't just say that's film critics/reviewers who are hard on Kiwi films though as a lot of the media in general here often seem more interested in promoting overseas/international projects/art than homegrown stories. I think that makes it hard to get much visibility for a lot of talented artists who have just ended up leaving and going overseas as a result :(
Some are. The TV3 film reviewer seems to give 5 stars at the drop of a hat to Kiwi films, but can give a non-kiwi film the most glowing review 'one of the best films I've ever seen, stellar performances, script an absolute must see.. 4 and a half stars'. I think the last non-kiwi film I saw her give 5 stars to was Babel and I just about fell out of my seat when she did.
I definitely think some NZ films get let off the hook. We've made some stinkers. Just like any country has. Most recently I was appalled to see "The Map Maker" receive positive reviews. It was awful.
Re: Predicament. All four Morrieson novels have now been filmed and no one has managed to really get his sensibility on film yet. This one doesn't come close at all. Yes, there's comedy but the dark stuff needs to be very dark ...
what can a kiwi film critic do when reviewing local production when the industry here is so small. chances are you know everyone involved. so again, if you're a movie critic, what do you do? you could bag the mediocre material that tends to be produced down here, and contribute to the 'tall poppy' syndrome potentially losing the respect of your industry colleagues in the process. or you could celebrate all the material that is produced in NZ, and pat your industry mates on the back for giving it a go no matter how 'number eight wire'-ish their respective productions come across as. At the end of the day, who would you rather upset, the public - by propping up the tiny kiwi film industry through unconditional positive reviewing, or, your mates?
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YES!!! Review are always kinder to New Zealand films. The reviewer's never want to give criticism. Its just pathetic a movie shouldn't need to get the soft touch to get people to see it.