In a thought-provoking letter, Paul and Lisa Major from Redwood City share their experience of watching the film "Anora" and the unexpected audience reaction they encountered. Mick LaSalle, the film critic, provides his insights on the movie's tone and the potential intentions behind the director's choices.

Unraveling the Complexities of "Anora"

Exploring the Line Between Menacing and Ridiculous

According to Mick LaSalle, the film "Anora" walks a fine line between being menacing and ridiculous. While the audience's laughter during the middle scenes, where the family muscle was tussling with Anora, may have been an unexpected reaction, LaSalle suggests that it could have been the director's intention. He acknowledges that a packed audience could conceivably find those scenes humorous, even though he personally did not find them especially hilarious.LaSalle emphasizes that the audience's response, while not what one might expect, is within the realm of legitimate reactions that the movie could provoke. He assures the Majors that their experience was not a perverse one, and the audience was not heckling the film.

Navigating the Complexities of Film Criticism

In response to a separate question from Mike Reed of Danville, LaSalle provides insights into the process of film criticism and the factors that influence his reviews. He explains that as the film critic, his primary responsibility is to review the biggest movies of the week, which are typically the ones of greatest interest to the general public.However, when it comes to films beyond the top two or three releases, LaSalle has more flexibility in his choices. He often relies on personal preference, with the editor's approval, to select the movies he is more interested in reviewing. LaSalle also acknowledges that he does not have a spontaneous affection for animation as a genre, and the decision to review an animated film may sometimes be better suited for someone else.Regarding his review of "Venom: The Last Dance," LaSalle admits that it was the biggest release of the week, leaving him no choice but to review it. He appreciates that Reed picked up on the subtle hints in the review that LaSalle did not particularly enjoy the film.

The Challenges of Aging and Film Criticism

LaSalle's response to John Howard of Oakland touches on the challenges that come with aging as a film critic. He raises the question of what happens when a critic starts to age out of certain genres or styles of filmmaking.LaSalle explains that there are two ways this can happen. The first is when a critic simply gets tired of certain types of films, such as the endless stream of "Avengers" movies or the repetitive nature of the "Deadpool" franchise. In these cases, the critic may struggle to find new and insightful things to say about the films.The second challenge is the risk of being wrong. LaSalle uses the example of the late film critic Bosley Crowther, who famously panned the 1967 classic "Bonnie and Clyde." Crowther, an advocate for Italian neorealism and the French New Wave, failed to recognize the brilliance of "Bonnie and Clyde," which shared many similarities with the films he had championed. LaSalle expresses his concern about reaching a point where he might start missing the boat on films that he finds repulsive or unappealing, even if they turn out to be masterpieces.This introspective discussion highlights the delicate balance that film critics must maintain as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cinema and their own changing perspectives over time.