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View all search resultsBeyond good and bad: Art of film criticism, then and now
Movies, like anything else in life that involves personal preferences, can be difficult to judge.
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blockbuster movie can set a new record in ticket sales even as it is savagely roasted by critics or vice versa, winning critical praise left and right even as it bombs at the box office.
Film critics are an essential part of the movie industry, and their opinions are often influential in shaping audience perception. But with the rise of social media, everyone has an opinion these days and are keen to proclaim them loud and clear.
So where do film critics fit in today’s cinematic experience?
Former members of the now-defunct movie review website, Rumah Film, recently discussed the various aspects of film criticism and their relevancy today during an online seminar hosted by the Jakarta Arts Council.
Rumah Film, or “house of film”, was founded in 2007 with the primary aim to facilitate the need for film criticism in Indonesian cinema. The site also covered foreign titles as well as film festivals.
Until its demise in 2013, Rumah Film posted numerous thought-provoking reviews and pieces, most of which are archived in Tilas Kritik: Kumpulan Tulisan Rumah Film 2007-2012 (Review Criticism: Compilation of Rumah Film Writings 2007-2012).
More than 1,600 pages in length, the book is essentially a nostalgic chronicle of Indonesian releases over half a decade, from Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow Troops) to reportage on the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
