Sometimes, while I’m reading the New Yorker, I get confused. I don’t get confused by the editorials. Nor do I get confused by the interviews. It’s those damn reviews that throw me off sometimes.
I’ll be reading something, perhaps it’s a review of a new TV show or movie, and I know how he or she feels about the film. I’ll think, “clearly, they liked this movie. I mean, they used the word charming and the word refreshing.” But sometimes, and it’s usually tucked somewhere near the end, they throw something in that either makes no sense to me at all especially because of what led up to it, or it’s there just to confuse someone. It’s almost as if the ambiguity tactic is used just incase some other more reputable reviewer saw the same film and thought the opposit of whatever they’re not saying.
I can’t believe you liked that movie.
Me? No, I DIDN’T like it. Didn’t you read that last paragraph?
Did you really NOT like it, New Yorker Reviewer person? Or are you just so unique it’d be wrong to admit liking anything at all.
Then again, I am fairly braindead in the morning. So it could just be me.
This way a reviewer can pan a movie but use enough flattering adjectives and phrases that the studio marketing people can quote them in their advertising, and thereby promote the reviewer and her publication (even though she hated it). Or am I being too cynical?
off the topic, but did you read the article in this week’s issue about Scooter Libby’s erotic novel?
funny stuff.
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/051107ta_talk_collins
This morning, for the second morning in a row, the damned stoner freakshow baristas at Mama B’s on Graham gave me a cinnamon bagel instead of whole wheat. Cream cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, and black pepper on a sweet bagel is not exactly good. How are they so consistently great at screwing up?
Now, for illustration, let’s turn my story into a typical movie marketing quote.
This morning, for the second morning in a row, the… baristas at Mama B’s on Graham gave me a cinnamon bagel… Cream cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, and black pepper on a sweet bagel is… good. How are they so consistently great…
I ate that shit anyway, though, because I’m a damned pig.
I like that. It sounds like a case of terminal unique-ity. :D So contrary.
In his review of Mama B’s, tobyjoe exclaims “they’re great at screwing”
::chirp::
Maybe Toby Joe needs to give up on bagels all together.
::chirp::
It happens to him frequently.
::chirp::