Can anyone be a film critic?
The history and transformation of the film critic.
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The World Films Community Network describes a film critic as “someone who analyzes and evaluates films, providing reviews and commentary on various aspects of a movie [… and] express their opinions on whether a film is worth watching.”
The earliest examples of film critics are journalists in the USA from the early 20th century who would write reviews for films being released. In Canada, one of the earliest and most influential critics was Jay Scott, the primary film critic for The Globe and Mail beginning in 1977.
When journalists first began writing about the films being released, it was more of a review than a critique of films. Films were taken at face value, and not yet considered an art form to convey serious messaging (at least in the West). Soon enough, European and Soviet filmmakers saw film as an opportunity to communicate complex and politically motivated content, providing more substance to critique.
As the approach to filmmaking evolved globally, so did the writing of film critics. Critiques were being written by specialized staff instead of journalists who were pulled from another section. Films were being taken seriously and the people writing about it took it seriously, too. Because they were small in numbers and experts in their field of writing, film critics held significant power in how the public would perceive a film and if it was worthwhile to watch.
However, the era of the film critic being a coveted position was about to change.
The evolution of film critics
Before the turn of the century, the internet changed the value of film critics and who could be a film critic. For example, Rotten Tomatoes, which launched in 1998, is a website that collects and averages reviews from film critics and the general public, taking away from the weighted ratings of film critics considered more popular. Other websites like Letterboxd have also allowed for anyone to write about a film and have a platform to share it on. But, it’s not limited to websites. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube provide a place to share thoughts on a film. Anyone can review, comment, and share whether they think a film or TV-series is worth watching. The only pre-requisite is having access to a device with internet connection.
Anyone can be a film critic, but this raises the question: does everyone deserve to be called a film critic?
Who gets to be a film critic?
Everyone deserves the opportunity to share their perspective on a film. Anyone can provide a review of a film. But, not everyone can be a film critic. A film critic considers factors beyond an appeal to personal taste. Their job entails tearing movies apart to find the messages, matter, and meaning in the film. They consider whether the material coherently conveyed its intended message. This doesn’t necessarily limit film critics to being certified professionals, because they’re technically not. But, they are individuals with an understanding of the art form of film. This could be a film student, someone who took a couple film courses, or a frequent moviegoer.
The internet has provided a stage for more individuals to share their opinions, whether it’s to provide a critical lens or just their opinion that a film was only positively received because it’s Spider-Man. In the end, it’s up to the reader which critiques they deem valuable.
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