Personal email
Begin forwarded message:
From: Martin Tran
Date: 31 October 2005 2:04:58 PM
To: Tamara Frangelli
Subject: Me and you
http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1727
The comments were extra special this time. People really got into this review. I liked it, too... a bit more analytical than the SMH one, but true Stylus style.
Additionally, somebody by the name of 'mirandajuly' commented, 'how dare you.' This could be the director/writer/actor.
I smile at lunch, now.
I read reviews to know what to think.
MT
posted by Martin at 22:19
8 comments
8 Comments:
Let me try to do it myself:
Martin: But Martin! I've seen you express negative comments about reviews [such as... where it's obviously you]. It doesn't seem like you need to be told what to think.
Although, I note that the email was quite poorly written - you didn't get a chance to do a draft, did you?
Martin: Okay, okay, Martin, those words weren't as carefully thought out as such a 'posting' would suggest.
The back story could be that, reading the review and comments during my lunch break, I am eager to tell somebody about the excitement of possibly reading a response from the actual director of the film, I string together some sentences and click send.
Do you think it was her? Could be...
Furthermore, I do sometimes read reviews to see if the reviewer picked up something that I didn't pick up, this film especially. It was about love. That's the general concensus. And there I was, just thinking it was just a bunch of stuff. And the stuff didn't really impact you, like make an impression. It was 'soft'. And when it ended, I was confused.
You saw it, too, what do you think?
Martin: You know, I had the exact same response to the film! I just wonder about how you approach reviews. Most people read reviews before going to see/hear/whatever something. I note that you often do the reverse, reading after the fact.
And, I reckon it was her.
And, and, sometimes you go to see a movie to be a sponge. I noted that of you that night. Too bad it was the wrong sort of movie to be a sponge at.
Martin: I find that I catch onto things late. Also, the choice of that movie was pretty much based on the desperate need to make Saturday night more interesting than doing nothing, and an interesting poster in the paper. It wasn't because I/you/we wanted to see it. I didn't even know it existed before I decided to watch it.
I realise that I'm waffling on, so I'll stop there. But I think my point has been made.
So you liked the film or not?
Is it a Martin-recommended film of the week? I hadn't heard of it either until now. But that blows cos if I do end up watching it there'll be expectations.
What else do you smile at?
Miranda July, very cool name. It seems like hibeside and july have a very interesting relationship, if in fact they are who they purport to be.
Enough questions?
It must be nice, to have a dialogue with yourself to find out what you like. Martin preempted my curiosity as to whether you read reviews pre or post movie / album / book / other possible interests. If you read reviews pre, does that influence your mindset during? And your review post? If you read reviews post, does that influence your mindset after? And your review post? What if you review pre reading reviews? Then how do you know what to review? Oh is it Friday yet?
I don't think it matters if I liked the film. It matters that you know about the film, and you've read stuff about it. I'm not telling you to watch it. But, if you happen to find yourself in the cinema with that film starting, you'll have had a good foundation for the next two hours or so. And, it's about love.
I'm going to nerd things up now, and say that I did a 'review of a review', for Yinong's History Theory. I thought I was quite clever. I think I got a distinction. Do you remember? It was about remembering!
And, I do it still - I'm not about to buy Destiny's Child's #1's [or will I?], but I read the review. Eh.
Don't worry, I'll try to think of something more interesting than reviews for the next post. [That discounts a third of my life... wait, wait, I don't think I want to talk about the rest of me.]
More questions, please. [I'm going to address smiling elsewhere... didn't Lin tackle smiling?]
Lin said something about grinning and smiling last night and she was right.
Another question on top of 'what do you smile at' would be 'what do you grin at?'
and you still do reviews of reviews these days anyway.
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