Ask Peter 08/14/26

Ask Peter 08/14/26

From subscriber Ryan Moore, a loyal subscriber to this blog: "I'd like a list of works of art (movies, television or books) that you like or even love although they contain a certain element of artiness or pretension...works that you love despite or even because of that flaw."

By Peter Travers

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Philip Seymour Hoffman stars in the movie I love more the more other people hate itjoh

You’ve hit on something essential about movie love, Ryan. Or TV, music, theatrical or literary love for that matter. There’s a bad habit (I’m sometimes guilty it) of labeling something “arty” or “pretentious” when you just don’t get it or you confuse its ambition with hubris. If an artist doesn’t risk saying something important, then they’ll keep feeding us pablum. This year I did not like David Lowery’s “Mother Mary,” but I’ll fight to the death to defend his accomplishments with “A Ghost Story” and the much reviled “The Green Knight.” And, hey, maybe Anne Hathaway’s brilliant performance of screwed-up celebrity isn’t the only thing worth celebrating about “Mother Mary.” Maybe it’s worth another chance.

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