Chick Flicks. Gotta Hate 'Em!

Here's my angry letter to Jessica Reaves, the Chicago Tribune staff reporter who reviewed the new film Dead Man's Shoes with Paddy Considine. She basically hated the movie and gave it one star, for no other reasons than it was violent and the actors had "impenetrable accents." Clearly someone who should stick with the Meg Ryan sappy, romantic comedies from the 90s. Clearly someone who's career as a reviewer should have ended then as well.

Dear Ms. Reaves,

I cannot believe you would pan a movie because you don't like the genre. Or because you can't understand foreign accents. Why were you even assigned to review this film? Not a word about Paddy Considine's amazing performance, which has garnered nothing but raves from actual critics who appreciate skill, storytelling, and film visuals -- regardless of the genre. As a woman, I am offended that you took the "eew, it's gory and bloody so it's bad" bent when reviewing this film. It's violent, yes. Get over it. Man up, accept the film for the work that it is, and then review its contents.

Was Kill Bill Volume 1 too much for you? Probably, since The Bride's "homicidal rage" got pretty rough, there. How about Scarface? Taxi Driver -- there's another "grisly revenge fantasy" that must have just sent you running out of the theatre in tears.

It isn't a prerequisite that a filmgoer "thrill at the sight of blood" to have an open mind about a film. Perhaps upon a second viewing (maybe with someone there to hold your hand during the scary parts) you could be a bit more objective in your critique.

- Inda