I was once a huge fan of Roger Ebert, and harbored a world of respect for a man who was writing film criticism before many of today’s critics were in diapers. So I was not thrilled when Ebert called my capsule review of “Goodbye Solo” a “pathetic review” after an anonymous commenter on Ebert’s site “Roger Ebert’s Journal” took my review to task for “spoiling” the film’s otherwise 100% rating on Rottentomatoes. Naturally, I took it on the chin at the time, but what the fuck?
I believe the word “anal” best describes this unknown commentator’s obsession with the Rottentomatoes thermometer. Don’t get me started on the whole “Toy Story 3” thing, much less the supreme public idiocy surrounding my review of “Lady Bird.”
Once again, Rottentomatoes serves as nothing more than an expediter of groupthink.
Leave criticism to the professionals.
A.O. Scott posing as a film critic. What a dingus.
My dissatisfaction with “Goodbye Solo” was piqued by the notoriously navel-gazing corporate film critic A.O. Scott (New York Times) whose praising review of “Goodbye Solo” wrongly designated the movie as a “neo-neo-realist” film.
What an amateur. I was disgusted. This is what passes for corporate film criticism. Vomiting all of the time now.
Regarding
what constitutes a great neo-neo-realist film (the proper term is just “neo-realist” by the way), I would invite interested viewers to watch Mike Leigh’s triumph of the genre with his 1996 film “Secrets & Lies.” I think you’ll agree that it is a much better film than “Goodbye Solo” — which, by the way does not meet the criteria of the genre. 
You could also check out Kazakh filmmaker Sergei Dvortsevoy’s “
Tulpan,” which I reference in my letter to Roger. “Tulpan” also blows “Goodbye Solo” out of the water. “Tulpan” has a 96% approval rating on RT, and “Goodbye Solo” is at 94%, for what it’s worth.That “Goodbye Solo” is a rip-off of Abbas Kiarostami’s far superior film “Taste of Cherry” (1997) is a different matter all together. Where is Gene Siskel when you need him?
I posted a defense of my review on Ebert’s site, and he was kind enough to reply, although kindness was not really on Ebert’s list of priorities. My original capsule review of “Goodbye Solo” follows the transcript.
I share the exchange here.
By Anonymous on March 30, 2009 12:31 PM
I can’t believe it. Cole Smithy [sic], who brags he is “the most intelligent movie critic in the world,” has just spoiled the perfect 100% rating of “Goodbye Solo” the TomatoMeter. All he writes is a short, shallow, idiotic dismissal. What an a$$hole.
Ebert: I went to look at it. What a pathetic review. A few generalities and some snarking at Tony Scott. One expects better from the most intelligent critic in the world.
You really want to pick a fight with me Roger? I wonder how that will go.
