Interview with a film critic

We are glad to welcome you to our small interview. Today, we will be talking about cinema. Joining us is a true expert, film critic and organizer of the "Cinefan" quiz, Egor Moskvitin.

1. What does your top 10 list of the best films, regardless of genre, look like?

💬 Answer: Let’s make it 11!

Midnight Run

Gladiator

Nastya (G. Danelia)

Dog Soldiers

Kill Bill: Volume 1

La La Land

A Hidden Life

The Seventh Seal

True Romance

Eyes Wide Shut

Sorry, Baby (2025)

2. Which film or films do you think are underrated by audiences?

💬 Answer: I think both critics and audiences were very wrong in their assessment of Joker 2. Many considered it a failure, an inability to repeat the success of the first part—formless and meaningless. A courtroom drama without tense dialogues, a musical without memorable songs. But in reality, the film establishes the ideology of the Joker. The first part showed the Joker we love, while the second reveals what lies behind this image—Arthur Fleck: weak, abandoned, helpless, yet still deserving of love. And this was a test of our empathy, one we may have failed.

3. Why do critics' and regular viewers' ratings often differ significantly?

💬 Answer: Viewers are usually sincere in their assessments, while critics have to analyze films more deeply.

First, critics often read into the meaning of films—that's part of their job.

Second, they fear misunderstanding something.

Third, they have their own biases and preferences.

Fourth, critics are prisoners of their extensive viewing experience—it’s hard to surprise them.

Plus, many suffer from imposter syndrome and unrealized creative ambitions, which can lead them to criticize films instead of simply enjoying them.

4. Why do critics often change their opinions about films?

💬 Answer: Sometimes a critic realizes they misunderstood a film, and its meaning becomes clearer over time.

It also happens when a film wins prestigious awards, like at Cannes or the Oscars, forcing critics to reconsider their stance.

Time is another factor—often, the first review is written immediately after watching, but weeks or months later, the understanding of the film deepens.

And, of course, the opinions of colleagues can influence and adjust the initial viewpoint.

5. What are the five clichés in films that you can’t stand?

💬 Answer:

1. Lazy screenwriting, like explaining a character’s actions through a generic childhood trauma.

2. Offensive national stereotypes—they’re irritating no matter who they’re about.

3. Serious films using comedy tropes—for example, a villain delivering a long speech before killing the hero.

4. Last-minute rescues—without irony, it feels cheap.

5. Clichés that aren’t subverted—if the author winks at the audience, acknowledging the cliché, that’s acceptable. But when used seriously, it’s disappointing.

6. How do film critics make money?

💬 Answer: There are many ways:

Writing reviews—this is the foundation.

Running blogs, podcasts, or shows.

Organizing festivals and curating their programs.

Giving lectures—both public and private, for corporate clients or wealthy individuals.

Teaching.

Running independent projects and selling ads in blogs.

Working in film distribution—buying rights and promoting films.

Hosting premieres and conducting public interviews.

There are plenty of opportunities, so there’s always something to do.

7. What criteria do you use to judge a film?

💬 Answer: There are three key criteria:

1. Is the film engaging? Does it captivate and hold attention?

2. Does it offer something new? Unique experiments, unusual choices.

3. What is its message? The most important thing is humanism—films help people cope with problems, teach empathy, provide hope, and inspire.

8. Which film do you rewatch every year?

💬 Answer: I have a few—Gladiator by Ridley Scott, La La Land by Damien Chazelle, Soviet comedies, especially those by Leonid Gaidai.

Films connected to childhood—like Midnight Run with Robert De Niro.

Also, I enjoy rewatching childhood favorites with my wife that we never watched together before—Braveheart or romantic comedies.

9. What is your least favorite film?

💬 Answer: I respect the work of others, and even in unsuccessful films, I find examples of what not to do. But what frustrates me the most is the lack of humanism, especially when a film feels cynical and misanthropic.

One example is the adaptation of A Gentle Creature by Dostoevsky, shown at Cannes in 2017.

Films that revel in human downfall have long repelled me.