Armond White has made a strong name for himself as the critic without a spine. When a film gets a nearly perfect positive review from professional critics, Armond can be sure to stand out in the crowd saying he hated it. And when a film gets panned, Armond is cheering it on. Just to stand out.
Well he was left standing out on the sidewalk when Greenberg was opened up for the press as the publicist curbed him, saying he was not welcome to come review the film because she was certain he woudln’t be fair to it, citing past reviews where Armond White has critiqued the director instead of his work in reviews.
Hollywood News says:
Leslee Dart, the film’s publicist, said she made the decision to keep White from the early screening with “100 percent” support from Focus Features, which is releasing the movie.
She said White’s previous writings and statements prove that the reviewer crossed a line, letting his personal animosity for Baumbach cloud his journalistic responsibility to judge Baumbach’s work fairly.
I think that is perfectly acceptable for her to turf this guy. With many qualified critics already being exposed to this film, I am sure she accepts that the film will get reviewed fairly. If they all hate it, that’s the chance you take giving advanced reviews. But you have to put yourself out there. Allowing a review to a “critic” who is already proven to have no integrity doesn’t serve their film at all.
White’s public reaction to this ban was a statement that just proves their decision was right, as he admits he is already predisposed to give a negative review before even seeing the film. He tries to direct the comment to address his personal feelings on the director, but then hypocritically saying its not the director he dislikes, it is his films!
“I have no more against Noah Baumbach than I do against Michael Mann,” White told HollywoodNews.com. “I never met either of them. It’s not personal. I just don’t like their movies.”
Films need to be critiqued on one film to the next and one actor to the next.
There are actors or directors that I will admit lessen my enthusiasm for a film, but I will still see that film and try to keep an open mind about the movie as it stands on its own. I generally don’t like Tarantino films, but there are some he has made that I love (Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill) so the ones he made that I DON’T like won’t change how I feel about those films. I really don’t like the recent trend of spoof films (which seem to thankfully be on a decline) but I still see many of them hoping one will stand out and offer some good clever gags.
After this “critic” constantly gets most of his attention for his complete lack of integrity I wonder just how he stays employed. Perhaps people read his reviews like they might read a gossip tabloid. “Lets see what unbelievable bullshit they will try to pass off as news today?”
I only ever hear his name when he is being an ass. I wonder if that is a measuring stick as to his popularity?
