Plans and a Policy Change at Bowen’s Cinematic.
A reader suggested a week ago that I “star” things. I initially resisted this impulse, but I, after seeking consultation from a few other readers, have decided to give it a try. Four stars will be the best, one the worst, which is the most traditional use of the little asterisks. To give a rough basis for comparison, I have starred everything that appears on the immediate page, all archive stuff will remain unstarred. You’ll note that almost all of the front page films have a generous amount of stars. What can I say? It’s been a wonderful week or two at the movies. I flirted with giving two other movies four stars, but decided against it. I want the four star rating to really mean something, and that means the occasional tough choice.
I will probably do a Best of 2007, and the star thing may not, in the end, be a totally accurate indicator of how that list will wind up. Time changes most all things, including opinions, and I have to go with what I think at the time. Hope you enjoy the ratings, and tell your friends. At the very least it will afford me another illusion of power.
Now, on to the fun stuff, next week’s agenda. I feel safe promising you looks at American Gangster, Bee Movie, Jindabyne, and Crazy Love. I’m thinking that a wild card may pop up somewhere in there too, maybe The Darjeeling Limited, maybe Lust, Caution. We’ll see. Meanwhile, hope you guys have a wonderful week.
P.S. I may have something tomorrow too. You never know with me. I can be a rascal.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:20 am
C-bo, I’m psyched for the rating system. It’ll give us readers an easy way to easily determine if you thought the movie sucked or not! keep it up
November 8th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
You already know I’m a star whore, so I support your decision.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Ah, I love the power I hold over you, Chuck Bowen! Also, what is your opinion on reviewing documentaries? Just wondering.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:35 am
Interesting you bring up documentaries. Crazy Love is a documentary, and I will be looking at that next week. In general doc terms, I tend to lean toward casual human stories. I’m not big on political docs, they tend to be more about the filmmakers’ ego than the issue at hand, but otherwise I have no prejudice against them. I really enjoyed Murderball. I love Herzog’s documentaries. I love Thin Blue Line. So I’m definitely on board with the genre.
There was a really good doc last year called Cocaine Cowboys that kind of plays like a real life mix of Miami Vice and the DePalma Scarface, if you’re into that sort of thing.
November 14th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I am hoping to see your review for “No Country for Old Men” soon. Will that be happening? I haven’t seen the film yet, but I already know that I am going to want to talk to you about it.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Thanks Lyd. No Country for Old Men will probably appear on the site a week from Monday. I have promised family that I would wait and watch it with them and, truthfully, that’s about as fast as I can get to it anyway.
I will, as always, have a post up later today outlining the coming week’s activities.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Stars don’t tell me anything. What’s the difference betwixt 6 stars and 7? Or 3 and 4? It’s a numbers racket!
November 27th, 2007 at 6:21 am
It is a racket, what can I say? Anything to get readers in front of their computer right?