Hatchet Job: Love movies, hate critics - Hardcover

Mark Kermode

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1447230515 ISBN 13: 9781447230519

Publisher: Picador, 2013

Synopsis

'The finest film critic in Britain at the absolute top of his form' Stephen Fry

For decades, the backbone of film criticism has been the hatchet job - the entertaining trashing of a film by professional reviewers, seen by many as cynical snobs. But with the arrival of the internet, have the critics finally fallen under the axe? With movie posters now just as likely to be adorned by Twitter quotes as fusty reviewer recommendations, has the rise of enthusiastic amateurism sounded the death knell of a profession? Are the democratic opportunities of the internet any more reliable than the old gripes and prejudices of the establishment? Can editing really be done by robots? And what kind of films would we have if we listened to what the audience thinks it wants?

Starting with the celebrated TV fight between film-maker Ken Russell and critic Alexander Walker (the former hit the latter with a rolled-up copy of his Evening Standard review on live television) and ending with his own admission to Steven Spielberg of a major error of judgement, Mark Kermode takes us on a journey across the modern cinematic landscape.

Like its predecessor, The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex, Hatchet Job blends historical analysis with trenchant opinion, bitter personal prejudices, autobiographical diversions and anecdotes, and laugh-out-loud acerbic humour. It's the perfect book for anyone who's ever expressed an opinion about a movie.

About this title

Product Description:

Mark Kermode admits to having changed his mind about some movies and possibly about his approach to reviewing altogether. In this musing on the history of film criticism he tells the stories of famous hatchet jobs and director-journalist spats, wonders whether the democratization of reviewing through the internet will result in better films and asks if the days of the professional critics slating are over.

Review:

Really loved it (Stephen Fry)

A wry, robust and developed defence of accountable critical voices (Total Film)

Mark Kermode puts up a spirited argument for honesty, integrity and individuality. An opinionated, funny and meandering study of films and their critical reception, it reminds us of the importance of standing by your view (Daily Mail)

Entertainingly incendiary stuff (Empire)

Very accessible, entertaining and relevant . . . warmly recommended (Den of Geek)

Engaging, informative and funny . . . a thoroughly enjoyable and accessible book . . . buy it now (Vada)

Populist, entertaining . . . A very personal examination of the usefulness and value of film criticism . . . Will delight fans of Kermode's previous books, and offers a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a professional film critic (Verité)

A passionate history of his craft [from] Britain's premier film critic (Sp!ked)

Mark Kermode, perhaps the UK's most prominent film critic and certainly one of its most respected, covers all the big issues involved in writing reviews: being honest and only saying things you actually believe, trying to get the facts right, writing well, being entertaining, and, sometimes, changing your mind . . . It's funny, moving and angry (Theaker's Quarterly)

Insightful, erudite . . . relaxed and witty (HeyUGuys)

About this edition

• Publisher: Picador
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1447230515
• ISBN 13: 9781447230519
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 310