FOR THE LOVE OF MOVIES: THE STORY OF AMERICAN FILM CRITICISM     

Dir. Gerald Peary | USA | 2009 | 81 min.

*Opening Night Panel Discussion to follow screening on Nov. 13 at 8:30 PM with filmmaker SEAN GARRITY, critics ROBERT ENRIGHT, RANDALL KING (Winnipeg Free Press), ALISON GILMORE (CBC) and AARON GRAHAM (Uptown Magazine).

Directed by The Boston Phoenix critic, Gerald Peary, For the Love of Movies offers an insider’s view of the critics’ profession, with commentary from America’s best-regarded reviewers, Roger Ebert (The Chicago Sun-Times), A.O. Scott (The New York Times), Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly), Kenneth Turan (The Los Angeles Times) and Jonathan Rosenbaum.

We also hear from young, articulate, Internet voices, including Harry Knowles (ainitcoolnews.com) and Karina Longworth (spout.com). Their stories are entertaining, humorous, and personal. Those who hear them may gain new respect for the film critic profession, knowing the faces and voices, and also the history. From the raw beginnings of criticism before The Birth of a Nation to the incendiary Pauline Kael-Andrew Sarris debates of the 1960s and 70s to the battle today between youthful on-liners and the print establishment, this documentary tells all. How did they come to their jobs and to their abiding love for cinema? Peary outlines the critics’ goal to illuminate the film-going experience, suggesting paths for readers to enter cinema more deeply, thoughtfully, appreciatively.