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Movies

Mick LaSalle's Insights on Authentic Film Criticism

2024-12-02

The movie “Election” (1999), directed by Alexander Payne, showcases the political world with Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister and Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick. This classic film kicks off the conversation about campaigns.

Uncover the Essence of Campaign-Related Cinema

Section 1: Fictional Campaign Movies

One of the favorite fictional movies about campaigns is the film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s play “The Best Man” (1964). It depicted the machinations surrounding the nomination of a candidate at the Democratic convention. Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson played the warring candidates, while Lee Tracy took on the role of the Harry Truman-like former president. This movie takes us back to a time when conventions played a crucial role in picking candidates.Another fictional movie worth mentioning is “Charley Varrick.” It features Walter Matthau, who was a prominent actor in the 1960s and 1970s. The question arises whether a 2024 version of Matthau would still have the same appeal. Although he might have changed some aspects, his likable nature would likely still resonate with audiences.

Section 2: Nonfiction Campaign Movies

“Game Change” (2012) is a notable nonfiction movie that focuses on the nomination of Sarah Palin. Julianne Moore played the former Alaska governor, giving viewers an insight into this significant event. It shows the behind-the-scenes dynamics and the challenges faced during the campaign.This movie also highlights the importance of nonfiction in depicting real-life events. It allows us to understand the complexities and nuances of political campaigns from a different perspective.

Section 3: Becoming a Good Film Critic

Being a film critic is not just about going to movies; it’s a writing job. The key is to communicate effectively so that readers keep coming back for more. To achieve this, one must be honest – not only factually but also emotionally and stylistically.It’s about saying what you think in your own unique way. If you do this, your writing will surprise people as they are not used to pure and honest communication. They expect smoothness but are awakened by clumsy authenticity.The good news for aspiring writers is that everything they need is within themselves. They don't need to develop a style; they just need to be themselves and strive to be that way. By writing and constantly questioning if they would really say something in a particular way, they will eventually develop their own style.Writing an article is more demanding than an email as it involves communicating with strangers and presenting facts and a point of view. A nonfiction book is even more challenging, and a fiction book is the ultimate test.It may not be easy, as it took the author five hours to write a letter in his 20s. But with practice and proficiency in different forms, one can overcome the blockage between who they are and what appears on the page.