Do people who talk about film actually know what they're talking about?

[chemn]

I have a mate who talks like that about everything.

 

[Reno]

The film critic I enjoyed reading the most was the New Yorker's Pauline Kael. She never felt the need to resort to academic terminology, but really could make you look at a film in a different way. She was so good a writer that I enjoyed reading her reviews even when I completely disagreed with her.

 

[Julie]

They think they do

Let's not rain on their parade by disabusing them of the notion

 

[Blagsta]

In relation to that particular film, nothing, as far as I call tell. Rather, my point is that using phrases like mise en scène and Musique Concrète down the pub is invariably less about discussing the film and more about showing off. Well, it often appears that way to me. Which is why I particularly like Mark Kermode.

Really? Well I suppose if people use those terms without knowing what they mean. But they're hardly particularly obscure.