...but I guess I can spare a little time to write this post. There's something of a tiny, furious lynch mob forming, of people who think I should be fired and put out to pasture with all the other ponies who know nothing about film criticism (stupid ponies).
So even though I'm REALLY BUSY (there are a lot of meaningful documentaries out there that need ignoring, you guys!), your persuasive skills have prevailed: I shall now address these concerns.
Alex Williams writes:
LINDY WEST IS KILLING ART HOUSE CINEMA IN SEATTLEDear Editor, why is Lindy West still in charge of your film section? Yeah, she's funny and would probably make a great partner for drunken karaoke, but her lazy lack of interest, knowledge and coverage of what's showing in Seattle's independent cinemas is astounding.
Good point. I am funny; however, though I am great at being drunk, I do not enjoy karaoke.
This week: MUNYURANGABO got only rave reviews in NYC and now it's playing in Seattle; any review or recommendation from The Stranger? Nope. Likewise for NOLLYWOOD BABYLON, a 2009 Sundance-featured documentary on the Nigerian film industry that's having its US theatrical premiere at the Grand Illusion. So what films did get The Stranger's feature reviews this week? The new Michelle Pfeiffer vehicle, the latest Cameron Diaz film... and a big front-page piece about the new TRANSFORMERS movie. With editing choices like these, Lindy might as well be film editor at the Yakima Herald Republic. Hey Lindy: YOU ARE THE FILM EDITOR OF THE STRANGER NEWSPAPER IN SEATTLE! Get with it or get out.
Eli Drake writes:
Do you realize that your film section is a joke? Under the helm of Andy Spletzer and Annie Wagner, this part of the paper was a nationwide example of alternative film criticism and the place in Seattle to get the pulse on local work. Lindy West is driving your film section into the ground, and taking the local cinemas with her. Her coverage displays her utter inability to notice trends and achievements in filmmaking both worldwide and in the region. It's not only an embarrassment, but a threat to Seattle filmgoers and filmmakers who used to rely on the Stranger for intelligent, thoughtful and knowledgeable commentary and coverage. Ms. West clearly prefers gossip and pop culture to true film criticism; why force her to cover serious dramas and meaningful documentaries she is unable to appreciate? Bring back someone who cares.
And an anonymous person who has gone so far as to create the e-mail address LindyWestSucksAtHerJob@hotmail.com wrote to complain about the lack of coverage of Treeless Mountain, Munyurangabo, Adoration, and others.
People, you are heard. We don't have unlimited resources here at the paper (this isn't the most fruitful time for newspapers in general), but we cover as much as we have time for. When we don't manage to review something in time for the print edition, I try my hardest to follow up on the web. Some things are always going to go without coverage, and I'm sure we'll disagree in the future about what I choose to include and what I don't (and, like I said, it's not always a choice).
Be warned: I'm not going to stop liking celebrity gossip and I'm not going to stop covering mainstream films. I deny the charge that I have some sort of vendetta against all things meaningful, however. And I'm planning some changes for the section that will make our "arthouse" coverage—which tends to get lost in Film Shorts—more visible. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks.
Also:
Here is my review of Munyurangabo.
Here are two different reviews of Treeless Mountain, both of which ran in the print edition.
Here is my review of Atom Egoyan's Adoration.
Here is my review of Made in U.S.A.
Here is my review of In a Dream, which played at Northwest Film Forum a few weeks ago.
Here is my review of The English Surgeon, which also played at Northwest Film Forum last month.
Here is Brendan Kiley's review of The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle.
Here is a review of Evangelion 1.0, which plays at the Grand Illusion this week.
There's also, you know, our giant fucking 2009 SIFF Guide.
Etc., etc., etc.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. In closing, because I do, in fact, love pop culture (till I die, bitchez!), I would like to leave you with this picture of David & Victoria Beckham being absolutely batshit insane, as usual. I fucking love them.
Love,
Lindy
1
2
3
5
6
12
15
16
17
18
23
24
25
28
30
31
32
36
46
47
48
53
58
59
Dear Editor, why is [hack] still in charge of [hack's section]? Yeah, (s)he's funny and would probably make a great partner for drunken karaoke, but (his/her) lazy lack of interest, knowledge and coverage of what's [happening in said writer's dept of choice] is astounding.
60
62
63
Comments (63) RSS