Just Calling a Film Pretentious is Prudish and Lazy

Is there a lazier shorthand in our discussion of movies than pretentious? It’s a word bandied about so casually yet seemingly so inconsequentially, used to describe everything from cinematography to score. It’s use, I think, not only begets its meaning too occasionally, but is also seen as something so bad that it can often qualify as the sole reason to dislike a film.

Credit:Winston Hearn/Flickr

Pretentiousness is ‘a false note of objective judgment,‘ writes Dan Fox in the Guardian. ‘When it rings we can hear what society values in culture, hear how we perceive our individual selves.’ Fox, in his book in defence of pretentiousness argues that anti-intellectualism, far from thinking of itself as against elitism in culture is in fact the real snob in the cinema (and anywhere else, for that matter).

The dictionary definition of the word is to affect greater importance onto something that is actually possessed. When we call a film pretentious, we are in essence saying that it thinks itself more important than it actually is: It’s ideas outweigh its execution. That’s fair- and often warranted- but to paint a film with the brush of pretentiousness without justification is lazy, smug and reeks of superiority.

The pretentious-o-meter exemplifies this perfectly. Ever wanted to find out how pretentious your taste in movies is? Well, lucky for you, this handy web tool is here to help. The site collects user reviews of a film collected from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, measuring them against its critical reception to generate a score. If audience opinion tips over critical reception, then the film is given a mass market percentage, if it gets it the other way around: pretentiousness score. Finally, pretentiousness made simply calculable; a Rotten Tomatoes for rhetoricism!

Except it often seems to miss the mark. Knocked Up is given a 96% pretentious rating, while Ranker’s number one most pretentious movie ever, Eyes Wide Shut, scores 50% mass market.

It is a bit of fun, and a symptom of -rather than the cause of- our attitudes towards pretentiousness. If we don’t get a film the same way a critic does then it is pretentious, but if we like a movie and someone else doesn’t get it the same way that we do, then they’re just plain wrong.

I’m not saying films aren’t pretentious or that we can disagree with critics. I’m saying instead of using the word as a loaded and vague shorthand, it needs to be justified. If a film commits the error of the p-word, then at least explain at what it is trying to grasp at that it sees as so important and how it falls short of reaching those lofty heights. It’s not unreasonable to ask, I don’t think, for an evaluative component here. Just using the word pretentious without explaining why is akin to saying something is good because it is good, or that ‘brexit means brexit’. Yes, that might be the case, but how is it that it is the case? Is that too much to ask, or am I being a bit pretentious here?

One final point. Is pretension, as trying to aspire to something more important than is actually reached, not the core of any artistic ambition? Let’s use the example of mother! (47% pretentious) that was accused of being so ostentatious to the point that it received the much vaunted F cinemascore form moviegoers. Cinemascores are measured from how an audience reacts to a film on its opening weekend, with lower cinemascores reflecting poorer word of mouth from a film's core demographic- those most likely to watch a movie as soon as it hits cinemas. Mother! Is only the 19th movie to score an F, joining the company of films like disaster movie and In the Cut.

Mother! is, as even those who don’t like the film agree, an ambitious undertaking. It’s the work of a filmmaker trying to express an emotional, political and biblical statement in a very unconventional and often confusing way.

‘I was very sad and I had a lot of anguish and I wanted to express it,’ Aronofsky told Esquire.’Filmmaking is such a hard journey. People are constantly saying 'No' to you. And to wake up every morning and get out of bed and to face all those 'No's,' you have to be willing to really believe in something.’

Most art aspires to something that it cannot achieve because often, like Aronofsky, the artist truly believes in what they are doing. How would art progress otherwise, if not for people bold enough to push its boundaries? Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey divided critics upon its release because its audacity outstretched its value. ‘For all its lively visual and mechanical spectacle, is a kind of space-Spartacus and, more pretentious still, a shaggy God story,’ said American critic John Simon at the time. Kubrick was trying too hard here to go for the jugular.

Yet 2001 undoubtedly lasts the test of time as one of most influential films ever made. Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese and countless other filmmakers have all said Kubrick’s classic had a profound impact on their careers. It proudly sits in 6th place on this years Sight and Sound greatest films of all time list. It’s ambition is its source for its inspiration. As Orson Welles said: ‘every true artist must, in his own way, be a magician, a charlatan.’

Of course, we do see pretension in the intellectual bluffs, the fakery and the deceit that make us as spectators feel like we’re being played. But it is the task of the critic- and indeed anyone who chooses to evaluate a film- to separate the fraud from the true virtuosity.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi- Pre-Pod Thoughts

Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

By Jack Sheppard

People hold Star Wars in such high regard that it’s virtually impossible to talk about The Last Jedi without saying something that someone will consider a spoiler, even mentioning that Luke Skywalker is in this film will be too much information for some. This will, therefore, be a very short review, as there is little I can say without ruining something for someone. Having said that though, if you haven’t seen The Last Jedi yet, I suggest you close this page and don’t re-open it until you have- this film is so much more enjoyable when you’re going in blind! 

The Force Awakens was met with acclaim from audiences and critics alike, but it also had its fair share of criticisms, the most obvious of which is its overwhelming similarities to previous entries of the franchise. The Last Jedi does not suffer from this flaw, but rather builds on the characters and storylines that were established in the previous film and takes them to new and exciting places. There are the traditional callbacks and fan service, and yes, this film does take some inspiration from The Empire Strikes Back, but it is probably to Return of the Jedi that it owes its biggest debt. 

Mark Hamill’s return to the franchise is amazing, and he gives a performance that’ll leave Hollywood producers asking “why don’t we hire this guy more?” Yet Hamill’s is just the best in a long line of stellar performances. Daisy Ridley carries the weight of the franchise with ease, as Rey faces growing conflict that she must confront if she is going to become a true Jedi.  Carrie Fisher is also allowed a greater opportunity to shine in her final film role. A much-unexpected subplot involving her and Poe Dameron is extremely touching and reminds us all why we will miss our beloved princess when she’s gone.

The host of new characters are all fresh additions to the franchise, steering the film in a different direction without it feeling forced. Benicio Del Toro plays DJ, a drunk smuggler who becomes a useful asset to two of the characters. DJ is a strange character in the vein of Captain Jack Sparrow, but unlike Sparrow, he doesn’t have the drawback of being played by Johnny Depp. A pink-rinsed Laura Dern plays Vice Admiral Holdo, a no-nonsense resistance leader who is hard to like at first, but by the end of the film, she may just be your favourite character.  

Things happen in The Last Jedi that you would never expect for the second instalment of a trilogy. Johnson continuously weaves the narrative in unexpected ways, zigging where you would expect it to zag. Many of the burning questions we had following The Force Awakens are answered, yet despite the amount of speculation that has existed over the last two years, these answers will probably surprise even the most die-hard Star Wars fanatics. It seems very clear that while Johnson wants to pay tribute to what has come before, he’s not married to the past, and so although not every question is answered, the new mysteries that arise ensure that you are always looking forward and not back. As Kylo Ren says in the trailer: “Let the past die, kill it if you have to.”

See Tuesday’s podcast for my full opinion. 

Big Little Lies is Returning for a Second Season… But Why?

Credit: HBO

By Jack Sheppard

A few days ago, HBO recommissioned its hit drama Big Little Lies for a second season, with most of the key figures set to return. This is hardly surprising news: it received good viewing figures, critical acclaim and more Emmys than traditional darlings like Game of Thrones and Veep. Those of you who listened to episode 13 of our podcast will know I loved the show. It’s funny, tense, intriguing, unique, and is filled with so many amazing performances. It sometimes feels like you’re being spoilt. So why does a second season feel me with dread?

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to return to the world of Big Little Lies and revisit these immensely fascinating characters, but I can’t help but feel there’s little point. The first season, for all its mysteries, ended on a very conclusive note, leaving little to explore in a second outing.Rather than a second season being show-runner David E. Kelley’s intention, it feels like HBO have got awards in their eyes, and are only making him write more episodes so it can chase the high of the first season.

It’s not the first time this has happened. You only need to look at the hundreds of unnecessary film sequels released every year to see that executives never know when to quit.

TV is not exempt from this either. Although most series are made with the intention of being recommissioned, the writer is still occasionally forced back to the typewriter at gunpoint.

Take ITV’s hit crime-drama Broadchurch. Series one wraps up so nicely that it leaves you wondering what on earth they can do next, and after watching the first couple of episodes of series two the answer becomes clear: not much!

There are, of course, ways to make a successful sequel to a limited series. It has become a tradition in recent years for limited series, such as American Horror Story or Fargo, to be rebranded as an anthology series with each new season featuring a new plot and cast. This allows the producers to create a thematically similar show whilst also keeping the storyline fresh, and most of the time this has worked. American Horror Story is still going strong after seven seasons and all three seasons of Fargo have garnered praise from audiences and critics alike.

Season two of Big Little Lies will not follow the same format, however, and the producers are attempting to continue the self-contained story of the first season. This leaves me worrying that they’re going to run out of ideas and create an increasingly ridiculous or uninteresting story, and in doing so ruin their stellar reputation.

Of course, I’m not saying this will definitely happen, and it is very possible that the second season will end up being just as amazing as the first, particularly if the cast and crew are sticking around. Besides, even if it isn’t good, it doesn’t really matter. The first season will always exist, and will always be an incredible watch no matter what comes next!

Photo Credit: HBO

How to Get a Job in Journalism (From a Fresh Hack)

I am about as new to the media world as Donald Trump is to politics, currently in my first (properly paid) job in journalism as a features writer after graduating from uni this year.

Credit: Pixabay/Skitterphoto

By Arun Kakar

When I was looking online for tips about becoming a journalist, I found it pretty hard to find advice from people just getting started in this current media climate. It feels like every week big publications are cutting staff and losing money, so it's pretty difficulty to be optimistic about ones prospects here.

Journalism is a career I’d always wanted but thought foolish to pursue seriously for its competitiveness and the reasons above. As a humanities student, much of the time spent applying to jobs is tough: You’re not specific enough to fit into anything in particular, and often the jobs you are considering (for me this was journalism, advertising, publishing) are the most applied for.

What was important at that stage was not focusing solely on journalism and just finding a way to get into doing something I wanted.

It’s not been easy, but I’ve already learned a lot about how to get that all important foot in the door and hopefully begin to build a career in one of the most rapidly changing and exciting industries around. I’m by no means a success story and I am certainly not a big-shot hack. These are just some of the hoops I learned to jump to get on the irst rung of the ladder.

Here are 5 tips I’ll share for those hoping to do the same:

Read the News

This is the most obvious tip on a pretty obvious list. As a minimum I’d (humbly) say read a newspaper cover to cover every morning, and withhold prejudices about certain papers. It’s important to understand what people are reading and the angles that papers are taking rather than a fraction of what’s out there. A quick scroll down BBC news just ain’t going to cut it.

You’ll notice from the start that it’ll very quickly advance your understanding of the world you want to go into and expose you to a range of opinions. No journalist should live in an echo chamber.

You don’t need to read every page of every paper, but reading widely and often is so, so essential. The amount of people who tell me that they want to be a journalist and then admit to being uninformed about key news issues is something that will be exposed ruthlessly by any editor at any interview you get. This happened to me and it was brutal. It’s the minimum requirement.

The internet is a bewildering place that spoils us for choice. Just reading the news isn’t enough, especially if you have any ambition of writing features. A good way to do this is to use RSS feeds from a range of sources as well as things like Pocket, Twitter and Flipboard that will keep you in the loop with longer, more in depth material.

It’s also important I'd say to stay curious, not only because it’ll look proactive to any employer, but because its intrinsically quite rewarding. The magazine world is vast: go out of your way to buy a new title every month and see what it's doing differently. Listen to podcasts, watch movies blah blah blah…the more rounded you’ll be. This is especially important when it comes to tip #4.

Oh, and pay for stuff. I’ve not been blessed with vast riches, but it makes sense to support the industry you’re looking to get into. Many of the papers and larger magazines run really cheap introductory offers and you can be promiscuous here. I got three months of The Telegraph for free when I took out an introductory '12 issues for £12’ subscription of The Spectator. Very Tory I know, but you’ll see right away the reason why the best publications deserve to be paid for.

Train

This is where it becomes tricky. After being under a ton of debt after uni, the last thing I wanted to do was shell out for a course that offered no guarantees of getting into a business that is shrinking.

What I’d say is that whilst it might not be essentiual, but seeing this as an investment helps. With the industry more competitive than ever, it is important to show that you have some core skills that put you above the crowd. Things like media law, shorthand and a knowledge of SEO are respected and often necessary. Editors are looking for people that understand the techie stuff they don’t know about, but still have a skillset that respects the fundamentals of journalism.

Yes, I’m in more debt because of it -and in the UK student debt is a never-ending process of paying back-but there is no way I would ever have got this job had I not trained. Everything I thought I knew about journalism was rewritten and things I didn’t even know about before have turned out to play a crucial part of my day to day.

Also, once you get that job- you can begin to pay it back. Compared to my existing student debt this is nothing. It’ll be gone by the end of the year.

Write

Obvious, but again so many people don’t do this. If anyone with an internet connection can set up a blog in 10 minutes, what’s your excuse for not writing? Shed any fears about not having anything to write about or no one reading your stuff- so much of getting a first job is having something to show an employer which backs up what you said on your CV.

If you’re at uni, join the paper. If you’re not, there are plenty of blogs out there that’ll let you contribute for free. I wrote a column for a site writing about  music mixes for over a year. I didn;t get oaid, but it only cost me my time.

Building up a body of work that shows a keenness and ability to write will demonstrate your dedication to this career.

But in 2017, unfortunately only being able to write often isn’t enough. A multimedia understanding will put you a cut above the rest because so many employers are looking to enhance their digital output. Start a podcast, join your university radio, learnt to edit and make video. These are all things that now play a key part in most publisers' content strategies. Just look at the number of magazines out there with podcasts and youtube channels. That number is only going to grow.

These aren’t necessary, but God, saying that you can, for instance produce audio and video content (alongside being able to write) is CV gold. Make your employer believe that you can make their life easier by spreading your skillset as wide as possible.

Flexibility

Graduate schemes are few and far between in the media world and they’re inundated with applicants. I didn’t get on a graduate scheme, and neither should you expect to. That’s not to say it won’t happen or not to apply, it’s just a case of doing the maths: the odds are not in your favour here.

Take a look at the number of titles out there and you’ll see that there are few areas uncovered by the media. The chances are that you’re not going to get your dream job from the off. You’ll most likely need to work your way up and through the industry in order to get there.

The most important thing at this stage is getting your foot in the door, which will you give you a starting point where you can grasp the working fundamentals of the trade. It might be an unglamorous title, but often what you’ll learn here is crucial to what you’ll take with you when moving to pastures new. I certainly do not have my dream job now, but realised quickly that this is for the better. Had I gotten my dream job right out of the gate, there would be no chance of getting away with the mistakes and learning-on-the-job part of things that I’m currently working through now.

Also it’s much easier to get a job at a title not everyone is clamouring after. Think about it: lots of people will apply to be a features writer at the Guardian, but not so many will be applying to the same position at the Grocer for example. The people who apply for the big role are often those who have worked for years on trade titles, plying their craft.

That’s not to say don’t apply for these roles. I mean, you’re going to be applying a LOT! I must have fired out over 100 applications and heard back from about 15%. Apply to literally anything you think you can do, using any source for jobs you can find and be persistent!

Oh, and call people! Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone a few days after sending off a CV to ask if the editor if they received it.

Don’t send out the same cover letter and CV either, its lazy and an editor can tell in an instant if its copied and pasted. Learn abut the role, the publication and use the cover letter as an opportunity to show what you in particular can spoecifically bring to the job.

Resilience

Journalism is a contact sport. Building up a network is an important way to learn about the job and it’ll help once you’re in work. Building contacts is good for advancing your career, and is often the bedrock of certain things like seeking comment that you’ll need to do every day.

Store every phone number- you never know when it may be useful.

By contact sport, It also means that it’s going to be tough. Rejection, being told your copy is shit (multiple times), not feeling like you’re actually any good at this/if its worth doing, the state of the media world and the competitiveness of the job market are all reasons enough to think twice about following through. But by being resilient and persistent in your efforts (and hey, maybe even following the tips above) so you can at least say you’ve given it your all.

Never make the mistake that I did early on of thinking that you’ll get a job because you came out of university being able to write essays and enjoy reading. I realised quickly that just an interest wasn’t going to make the grade.
You have to live and breathe the news, roll up your sleeves and get stuck in to show you can give this everything you have. That means doing all of the above and working bloody hard. Put in the extra hours if you get a first job, and if you don’t have a job: blog.

Again, there are 440 million blogs worldwide. If you want to be a journalist and aren’t blogging…why not?

I learned the hard way that it’s too easy to sit back and think ‘I’ll set up a blog another day’, or ‘maybe I’ll leave this to read later.' We can all make excuses, but don’t be one of those people too proud to admit how little they know or how a job is going to come to them just because they apply to jobs with the same CV/cover letter to give themselves the small gratification of ‘at least I’ve tried,' only to be disappointed when they hear nothing back.

By keeping on your toes with a thick skin and a hefty dose of willpower and energy, you’ll be fine. It is tough, it is really hard work and you are forever learning from mistakes. But God, it is the best job in the world. Good luck!

Disclaimer: There are other things like social media that I haven’t had the space or time to cover. What I’ll say about that is I still struggle with Social Media as well as several other aspects of the job. I am still woefully inexperienced and get caught off guard almost every day, which I might save for another entry. 

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