Being A Critic

Avatar seemed doomed for failure-then the reviews started pouring in. By the time it was actually released to the public, it had attained a lofty 82% on the popular critic polling website Rotten Tomatoes. Soon after, the movie became the highest grossing film of all time.

Critics are paid to write their opinion on any topic ranging from books to movies and even video games. But why does anyone value what other people have to say so much?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette movie editor Barbara Vancheri believes it is trust built up between the reader and critic. “I would like to think that people feel they can trust the Post-Gazette,” says Vancheri, “I try to back up what I say, even when I sometimes think ugh, that was awful or just not funny.”

Along with trust, knowledge of the topic is key for critics-but it is not enough in this day and age. The critic must understand everything about their subject.
Lindsay Cryer, The Daily Collegian’s music editor says that the key to a good music review is in listening to the band’s previous material.

“Do background research as much as you can. Listen to their most popular stuff so that you’ll know why people did or didn’t like them before,” Cryer says.“Being a critic really isn't anything different than being a music fan. If you like music, you obviously have good and bad things to say about it. I'm just lucky enough to have mine published.”

As it is everywhere in today’s society, everyone has an opinion. Just because someone gets paid to voice an opinion does not mean it is the most popular one.
“E-mail has also made it possible for people from anywhere to send you crazy, insulting emails,” says Vancheri, citing ones in which she was called ‘a broad’ and labeled a ‘liberal media douche bag.’

Pittsburgh Tribune Review critic Garrett Conti receives the same type of e-mails, but says the worst part about the job is all of the bad movies out there.

“Even worse, a lot of these terrible movies do well at the box office, and as rentals they’re sought after. Just look at the top rentals from the week of Feb. 14. "Couples Retreat" was No. 1, and that was a lackluster film. During that same weekend, "Valentine's Day" was No. 1 at the box office, and that got really terrible reviews,” says Conti

Both critics agreed though, that the good does indeed far outweigh the bad.
“The best thing is being able to see the very movies I would pay to see on the weekends as part of my job…I sit in the main newsroom and hear stories assigned about fatal crashes involving teenagers for instance and I’m thankful I don’t have to do that,” says Vanchari.

“There are two things that I really enjoy about being a critic,” says Conti, “The first is shedding light on movies that fly below the radar. The second is talking movies with people. People are more inclined to talk to me about films, and I like to hear other people's opinions because they might say something that I never thought of in relation to a flick.”