Film Review: For the Love of Movies

Title:               For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism
Director:              Gerald Peary
Producer:            Ellen Poss (Exec), Amy Geller
Screenwriter:     Gerald Peary
Cinema:                Craig Chivers, Nick Kurzor, Edward Slattery
Editor:                  Sabrina Zanella-Foresi, Alesander Lekic
Music:                   Bobby Keyes
Sound:                  Robert Todd
Year:                      2008 (82 Minutes)

Synopsis: For a hundred years, virtually the entire history of American movies, film critics have championed this medium they so unabashedly love. Their reviews illuminate the film-going experience, suggesting paths for readers to enter cinema more deeply, thoughtfully, appreciatively. For the Love of Movies is the first documentary to dramatize the rich, fascinating history of American film criticism. From the raw beginnings of criticism before The Birth of a Nation to Bosley Crowther’s 27-year reign at the New York Times, from the incendiary Kael-Sarris debates of the 1960’s and 70’s to the battle for audience between youthful on-liners and the print establishment. Gerald Peary’s affectionate documentary tells all – featuring interviews with Roger Ebert, A.O. Scott, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Kenneth Turan, and Elvis Mitchell.

Review: I enjoyed this film in the same way I would enjoy a run-of-the-mill PBS documentary. It was good, but not great. Interesting, but not moving. More informative than entertaining.

That first paragraph sounds like I’m damning the film with faint praise. Let me say again that I liked For the Love of Movies. I found it interesting. But it’s not the type of film that is going to motivate people to run to the roof tops to shout it’s praises.

Director Gerald Peary’s film gives a very good history of film criticism, including interesting information that the average viewer is probably not aware of. In particular, I enjoyed the information concerning the Pauline Kael – Andrew Sarris debates on film criticism.

One thing I didn’t care for were the black outs between different sections of the film. I found it distracting and it detracted from the continuity of the film.

Overall, For the Love of Movies is a good film and a good history of film criticism, and to a lesser degree, a history of film itself. Not earth shattering, but good.

(3.0 out of 5.0)