Passing the torch of film criticism?

EW LAYS OFF FILM CRITIC, AND MAY LOSE READERS...

By Jerry Saravia

Owen Gleiberman

On April 2nd, 2014, Entertainment Weekly announced the layoffs of seven staff writers, one of them being film critic Owen Gleiberman who had been an active and, I thought, prestigious member of the EW team since 1989. Former colleague and film critic, Lisa Schwarzbaum, left last February, 2013 and took a buyout. Owen is not the only one to leave; music critic Nick Catucci, staff writer Annie Barrett, Jeff Giles and executive editor Jason Adams were also let go. Some had planned to leave, others had upcoming projects in the winds. But Owen's departure is a little upsetting, at least to me. It may affect my overall view of the magazine as a whole. This is not intended to be a reminder of what happened to Bosley Crowther (New York Film film critic/journalist) whose damning review of "Bonnie and Clyde" might have led to his departure. I have not heard anyone say that Gleiberman is out of touch nor that his reviews cause any level of consternation from readers - it is quite the opposite. So what gives?

I had started reading Entertainment Weekly back in early 1990 and haven't stopped since, primarily due to Owen Gleiberman. His film reviews were honest and, at times, incendiary. He gave a grade D to 1990's "Pretty Woman," though later he expressed second thoughts. He also gave a grade B to "GoodFellas," expressing that he was disappointed there was little soul in Scorsese's gangster masterpiece (though it ended up in the annual Best Movies of the Year list). In fact, Gleiberman fans might have noticed an echo of his thoughts on "GoodFellas" expressed in his review for "Wolf of Wall Street." Owen always stuck to his guns, giving his reviews the impression of an overall experience, much like his idol Pauline Kael. Every week, I couldn't wait to see what he had to say about any movie - he was sometimes as entertaining as the movie he was reviewing. I didn't always agree with his opinions ("Eyes Wide Shut" is far better than a "C" grade, and I do love "Saving Private Ryan" but it is not an "A" movie) but it didn't matter - his reviews took my love for Ebert and Kael in the 1980's to a whole new level of understanding of what an experience of a film dictates - engaging the emotions. He would occasionally make mention of a film's soundtrack, specific songs used to underscore a hidden meaning in a shot or sequence, that few film critics ever do.

According to Hollywood Reporter, "The entertainment magazine's layoffs are part of a broader reorganization at Time Inc that has seen staff reductions at titles across the company. 

EW debuted a redesigned website in June 2013, three months after Time Warner announced the spinoff. The publishing company is set to officially be split from Time Warner in the second quarter of this year, according to a regulatory filing last November. 

Recently, the publication launched a platform where a network of mostly unpaid bloggers can post recaps of TV shows and contribute lists and articles, Digiday reported last week. Titled The Community, the vertical is currently in beta mode with the first post listed as being published on Feb. 21. EW describes the section in a FAQ as 'featuring superfans with passion and unique voices'."

Now look, I am not a good film critic or blogger but I try my damnedest and I would love to be paid for my efforts. So is it a money issue overall, hence the unpaid bloggers making written contributions? Or is it the split from Time Warner - the latest in bad corporate decisions? Chris Nashawaty is staying on (he is equally delightful to read in the increasingly abbreviated DVD/Video section of EW) and will do a fine job filling in but Owen, among other contributors at the magazine, made Entertainment Weekly into the film/music/pop culture mag it is. Let's hope Owen finds a good fit elsewhere because the average film blogger, with exceptions, can't write two words that come close to the cultured musings of Owen.