We began the I Hate Critics Podcast based on the premise that I got into film criticism out of a genuine love for writing about movies and the belief that I would be cool if I was a film critic. I was never cool growing up, I thought that having a cool job would make me cool by association. I was wrong. What I experienced in earning my professional title and membership in the then Broadcast Film Critics Association, now the Critics Choice Association, was proudly telling people I met that I was a film critic and being met with more hostility and derisiveness than I was fully prepared for.
"I never agree with critics." "I don't listen to the critics." Or "Critics hate everything." These are the statements that met me every time I introduced myself and was asked about my chosen profession. I genuinely thought I was going to be cool if I told people I was a film critic. Instead, I found most people eager to tell me I was wrong and that they hated the critics. Thus, I Hate Critics was born. It's a chance for film fans to confront a film critic and force him to defend his position. However, it evolved quickly as Bob, Josh, and myself became close friends. It became less about challenging me as a critic and more about sharing a mutual love of movies.
That was at the heart of changing the name to Everyone's a Critic. We wanted to create a community that was safe for all opinions. We wanted to be inclusive and that was great for a long time. We enjoyed a place of positivity and inclusion. Lately however, the tide has turned and once again, film criticism is in the crosshairs. Film Critics have been trying to defend the profession against the encroachment of so called 'influencer culture.' There is a tide of opinion that rages against Critics and is forcing critics to defend their positions. That's a good thing in many ways, critics should be challenged.
