Critical Failure: Film
Have our film critics lost their way or merely their page space? And how should we be reviewing - and making - films in Australia?
In a discussion led by Peter Mares, critics Adrian Martin, Mel Campbell and Fenella Kernebone and filmmaker Gillian Armstrong interrogate the place of the film critic in our cultural landscape. Together they address where reviewing ends and criticism begins, the influence of commerce and readership, the particular roles that online publishing can play, and how we can move towards a robust critical culture that rewards audiences and filmmakers alike.
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Who?
Gillian Armstrong
Gillian Armstrong is one of Australia’s most successful directors with credits including My Brilliant Career and The Last Days of Chez Nous.
Mel Campbell
Mel Campbell is a freelance journalist and critic who co-hosts the fortnightly literature and culture podcast The Rereaders. She is a columnist on writing at Overland magazine, and a university lecturer and writer-for-hire on film, TV and media. Her first book was the nonfiction investigation Out of Shape: Debunking Myths about Fashion and Fit (2013), and she’s currently co-writing a second romantic comedy novel with Anthony Morris; their first was The Hot Guy (2017).
Fenella Kernebone
Fenella Kernebone is the host of ABC TV’s new weekly half hour arts show, Art Nation.
Peter Mares
Peter Mares is lead moderator with The Cranlana Programme, an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to developing the ethical decision-making skills of Australia’s leaders. Peter is also contributing editor at Inside Story magazine and adjunct fellow at Swinburne University’s Centre for Urban Transitions. He is a former ABC broadcaster and the author of three books, including No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis (Text 2018).
Adrian Martin
Since 1979, Dr. Adrian Martin has combined work as a professional writer and film critic with a university career.
