Recent Comments
Re: “On Ben Gazzara's Unique Masculinity: The Killing of a Chinese Bookie”
Thanks for remembering, L. xo
Re: “Cannes 2012: Killing Them Softly, On the Road”
Relax, Henry - I think all reviewers could use a dose of something tranquilizing - no need to be so defensive. You should spend your time on other endeavors, rather than responding to my comment. You're a critic for L magazine; theoretically, you're above these comments.
Re: “Cannes 2012: Killing Them Softly, On the Road”
L magazine film reviewers are consistently sour and posturing as superior. They often seem like recent college graduates who still dwell in the amateur realm of trashing other working artists whom they envy. It seems to be a common pitfall of a young publication like L magazine with writers who are trying to make a mark and forge their identity but wind up in the post-Gonzo bitterness and reckless criticism of tantrum reviews, hiding their contempt not so subtly in feigned intellectual fervor. An incredibly perverse lack of respect for artists - and clearly out of touch with the artistic process and what it takes to get a decent film made these days.
Re: “Crime Is A Form Of Capitalism (Get It? Get It?): Killing Them Softly”
Clearly, Dominik meant the film to be a slam against capitalism, our national excuses for exploitation should remain under constant assault and suspicion, and I think the film was sustained, simple, and a direct hit, the kind of shot that needs to be taken, as such, especially in a gangster film where gut shots are the best ones. Blows against an empire are one of the only ways to make a difference - persistence pays dividends - and this is clearly Andrew Dominik's intention, which he has also stated in interviews.
Re: “Crime Is A Form Of Capitalism (Get It? Get It?): Killing Them Softly”
Clearly, the reviewer didn't fully understand Andrew Dominik's intention and seems to only be trying to skewer this film. Too bad because the film is as beautiful and heartfelt as Dominik's Jesse James film was. As a jumping-off point, the title of this article should have been "Capitalism is a form of crime" and not the far-too-obvious and shallow "Crime is a form of capitalism" that the reviewer subtitled as Get it?, so snarkily. Vadim Rizov didn't understand this film or the magnificent and elegiacal Jesse James film. This is an all-too-common problem with reviewers who become too bitter and ingrown from too much critique and not enough creation.
