Me & My Ratings

I’m Phil, and I’m a native Washingtonian. I like Belgian waffles and a hot game of shuffleboard. But why do I love film?

People have thousands of mediums to express themselves – through the canvas, through the microphone, and some through the camera. I respect all forms of expression, yet I find film to be the most interesting of them all. Its influence in the world is staggering. It can be used to control fashion, popularity, and culture as a whole. Today, film experiences have no boundaries. In this age of technology, anything imagined can be created. Many people make films for monetary value, some for fame, and others because they know their imagination is the greatest gift they can give to the people.

So what’s up with the ratings system? Let me be fair: I used to love throwing out the star count on movies when I first started reviewing. As I aged, my measurements of film criticism became more ambiguous and unknowing – when I realized that the ratings system was actually tarnishing my love of film. I don’t feel like letting ratings speak for themselves. So my reviews are now ranked on a quartile system.

RATING

  • If a film is in the fourth quartile (****), it’s seriously considered - positive emphasis on direction, writing, acting, and technical savvy. But four stars doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to win the Oscar or be on a top 10 list.
  • A film in the third quartile (***) is one to be recognized, despite some flaws. Reasons range from predictability to the artistic tone.
  • A film in the second quartile (**) features less pros and more cons. Usually a major impetus that keeps the film from progressing properly.
  • And a film in the first quartile (*) is simply bottom of the barrel. Glaring weaknesses and poor production values.

I refuse to do the Pitchfork method of a 0-10 scale, plus all the decimals. When you bringing decimals into your rating, you’re spending far too much time picking things apart. And thumbs up and thumbs down is too much of a judgment call.