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mtmarriott's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
thomas_wright's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.75
reviewing a biography of a film critic feels weird
it was entertaining and i got a list of movies to check out in the process
it was entertaining and i got a list of movies to check out in the process
davidhasalife's review against another edition
2.0
“It’s a book.”
“A book?”
“Yes, it’s a book by a film critic called Mark Kermode.”
“Mark Kermode? The film critic?”
“Yes, the film critic Mark Kermode.”
“And he’s written a book?”
“Yes.”
“Mark Kermode has written a book?”
“Yes, Mark Kermode has written a book.”
“And it’s about film criticism?”
“Well, kind of. It’s more like a series of uninteresting film-tangential anecdotes, with sprinklings of the worst aspects of Kermode’s shouty opinions thrown in for good measure.”
“And it’s a book?”
“Yes, it’s a book.”
“Well, then. Sounds like it’s a book!”
“A book?”
“Yes, it’s a book by a film critic called Mark Kermode.”
“Mark Kermode? The film critic?”
“Yes, the film critic Mark Kermode.”
“And he’s written a book?”
“Yes.”
“Mark Kermode has written a book?”
“Yes, Mark Kermode has written a book.”
“And it’s about film criticism?”
“Well, kind of. It’s more like a series of uninteresting film-tangential anecdotes, with sprinklings of the worst aspects of Kermode’s shouty opinions thrown in for good measure.”
“And it’s a book?”
“Yes, it’s a book.”
“Well, then. Sounds like it’s a book!”
calfaile's review against another edition
5.0
Any fan of his film review show will love this memoir. It's a mix of rants and anecdotes in his trademark breathless style.
jessee_williamsss's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
sagacarolin's review against another edition
3.0
As an LTL I had heard most of these stories before, but it was fun to revisit them in this meta way, mixing film-making metaphors with reviews and some light show-biz anecdotes thrown in. Rambly like your favorite boring uncle and self-congratulatory when he tries to be deprecating, but somehow overall this was really kind of a charming read.
Though I will say, if Kermode dined out on his early 90's Ukraine stories for years, I just realized that I have untapped treasure troves of anecdotes to regale soft-bummed Western Europeans with. So what you once spent a few hours in a Lada and took a Russian plane. Pffft.
Though I will say, if Kermode dined out on his early 90's Ukraine stories for years, I just realized that I have untapped treasure troves of anecdotes to regale soft-bummed Western Europeans with. So what you once spent a few hours in a Lada and took a Russian plane. Pffft.
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
5.0
Having read and loved The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex last year, I got my hands on It's Only a Movie, expecting more of the same. However I was pleased to discover a different but equally entertaining reading experience awaited me.
An autobiography told by a film lover, the book was an amusing journey through Mark Kermode's early experiences with cinema and how he built a career around a subject he is so passionate about. The book was hilarious, written with a wry and self effacing tone that nicely contrasts his reviewing style, which he describes in the book as being necessary for all critics, the absolute sense that you are right and everyone who disagrees is wrong, wrong, wrong. I was also pleased to see Kermode sneer at the "if you liked... you'll love..." school of criticism, a method which recently kindled my ire with posters for Pitch Perfect professing it to be "Bridesmaids meets Ted!". No. Just No.
Back to the book, it provided great insight into the mind of a passionate film fan and I would be very keen to read more books by Kermode, let's hope he puts pen to paper once more.
An autobiography told by a film lover, the book was an amusing journey through Mark Kermode's early experiences with cinema and how he built a career around a subject he is so passionate about. The book was hilarious, written with a wry and self effacing tone that nicely contrasts his reviewing style, which he describes in the book as being necessary for all critics, the absolute sense that you are right and everyone who disagrees is wrong, wrong, wrong. I was also pleased to see Kermode sneer at the "if you liked... you'll love..." school of criticism, a method which recently kindled my ire with posters for Pitch Perfect professing it to be "Bridesmaids meets Ted!". No. Just No.
Back to the book, it provided great insight into the mind of a passionate film fan and I would be very keen to read more books by Kermode, let's hope he puts pen to paper once more.
ohnoflora's review against another edition
3.0
I know this is meant to be an autobiography of sorts - an account of how his love of film started - but I really would have liked less anecdotes (entertaining though they were) and more insight into the practice of film criticism as a whole (why do it? why does he think it's important? what can it achieve? what are its limitations? etc etc etc - these questions are never addressed).
quitenerdyblog's review against another edition
3.0
Always love hanging out with big man Kermode, though I think as a writer the last ten years have really helped him. Comparing this to How Does It Feel? is (in the very nicest way) reassuring proof that we are all, always, improving as writers. Still lovely though, as I said.