Hard Times.

"Now is probably not the right time to enter the world of film criticism, but don't tell that to aspiring pundits," writes Peter Debruge in Variety. "Even as the professional ranks implode, young writers are expressing their passion by any means necessary." Among those he's talked to for this piece: Keith Uhlich, Vadim Rizov, Kristi Mitsuda, Michael Koresky, Karina Longworth, Dennis Lim, Eric Kohn, Nick Pinkerton and Aaron Hillis.

Also in Variety, David Mermelstein talks with the elders about the state of criticism and the industry itself: Joe Morgenstern, Richard Schickel, Andrew Sarris, Kenneth Turan and Stanley Kauffmann.

"I don't think film criticism is dead. What makes me sad is that so few people even know what it is. But that's something that hasn't changed in 30 years." Jim Emerson comments on the threats critics who've reviewed The Dark Knight unfavorably have been facing.

"Indie distribs are falling," reports Michael Jones, "And falling in threes. This week saw First Look, Peace Arch, and now the Yari Film Group - all hit by declining fortunes and, in two cases, lawsuits."

"Another piece on the demise of our favorite art form, this time titled 'The Death of Indie Film as a Business Model' and found at Mike Curtis's HD for Indies blog," notes Filmmaker's Scott Macaulay. "It's all there - the Gill speech, overcrowded theaters, uninspiring films, the high cost of marketing, piracy, the high cost of film school, the Darwinian acquisitions environment."

"When the going gets tough, the tough supposedly get going," writes Holly Million at SF360. "The real question is, where exactly do they go? Well, if they are indie filmmakers looking to raise money for their films, they had better go to individual donors. And when they go, they had better do so strategically, that is, armed with a thoughtful, well-crafted plan of action."

Posted by dwhudson at December 14, 2008 9:30 AM