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# There’s No Such Thing as a Too Difficult Question for a Critic: A(nother) Manifestivus
- URL: https://www.moviegoingwithbill.com/manifestivus2/
- Published: 2022-04-12T11:34:59.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-27T23:26:02.000Z
- Description: When you gotta go...
- Author: Bill Arceneaux
- Tags: #Migrated-1759014615461, #Import 2025-09-27 18:21

There’s No Such Thing as a Too Difficult Question for a Critic: A(nother) Manifestivus

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## Dear Moviegoers,

In the early days of Patreon, when I set reward levels so ludicrous but well-intentioned, I consulted with a good local filmmaker friend of mine about how I should operate this new support page for my writing work. Straight-up, she asked, **“Why is film criticism important?”** While I thought of an answer, she took to the restroom, likely confident that I wouldn’t be able to properly respond.

She was right.

Upon her return, I rattled off my reasons for why **I** love writing about movies, from breaking out the family typewriter in elementary school to express my thoughts on *Super Mario Bros* to pitching a small-town newspaper on why *Superman Returns* was excellent. Super, but not enough. Why is film criticism important **at all**, sir?

I still think about how flabbergasted I was so many years ago by her question, especially in my more depressing moments. Today, movie reviewing is treated and almost seen as a niche gimmick part of the news cycle, relegated to Youtube entertainment and outlandish "hot takes,” viewed mostly (not necessarily “read”) by gamers and geek **cult**urists alike. This is what it feels like at times, anyway.

Of course, reaching audiences where they’re at is not a bad thing at all. I’d love to Instagram and TikTok my work… if I could just figure out smartphone video editing and style. And what would be the publication title of such **content**? Would the username count? Do film critic organizations accept those? If the hits and views are big enough, maybe.

It’s not a **young** **creator’s** game, but it is a **savvy producer’s** one.

I just want to watch. I just want to read. I just want to type. I just want to write. Is there **still an audience** for what I want to do?

I believe so. I have to.

Why is film criticism important? When asked, my friend left to go to the restroom. To **escape**, if only for a **limited amount of time**. Is escapism not one of the main reasons for pressing play or sitting in front of a large screen in the first place? The bathroom stall is no screening room… unless you have a phone now. It can also be a place to think and write even. I should’ve thought more about her action of bodily relief - in the relevant query context, I mean.

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Film criticism, **I like to think**, is important because it too, much like moviegoing and bathroom breaking, is **an escape**. A round trip escape into perspective, into heart, and into thought itself. Film criticism, like the movies, can be a mirror to the world, both in specific places and as a whole. Film criticism is important as it articulates and appreciates all that movies can do, and **why**. **And how**. It’s important because so is **journalism**. So are **words**. So is putting words out **into the world**.

I think my friend would’ve been happy to hear that. And would’ve countered it somehow with another question. When it rains, it pours on one’s parade.

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So… where’s my manifestivus? What do I have planned for Moviegoing with Bill?

Going forward, this work in progress will attempt:

- To cover more of the local and regional film scene in Hollywood South.
- To publish more consistently and more often, maybe on specific days of the week.
- To bring more fun into the writing.
- To record audio versions of each and every future newsletter.
- To engage with all subscribers at every opportunity, with an open line of dialogue.
- To not overthink and hesitate too much. Again - this should be fun.
- To read more and showcase highlighted passages from the film books that I’m reading.
- To contribute more positively to the independent film community (even when giving a poor rating) and the film culture here at home.

If there’s anything I should add, please let me know at nolamoviereview@gmail.com.

Please do share around, consider getting a monthly or annual subscription, and forward along to a friend or two. I’m only able to make this work with support from readers like y’all.

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## Sincerely Yours in Moviegoing,

![](https://www.moviegoingwithbill.com/content/images/2025/09/fbcb40fc-912c-4e85-9ad6-ef889ee0b602_257x257.png)