Caleb Fox

Can you think of times the movie was better than the book? We usually (especially writers)say the opposite. But aren't movies sometimes better than the books they're based on? Here are some cases where I liked the movie better. I invite you to send me your own lists, or your objections to mine:


THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR (based on Irving's A WIDOW FOR ONE YEAR)
THE GRADUATE
THE GODFATHER
THE WIZARD OF OZ (though both were terrific)
and maybe even ATONEMENT

--caleb

As an artist or member of the audience, do you get any help from the critics? I don't, but how about you?

I used to review music (and later theater, movies, and books) for the big Los Angeles newspapers. After years of writing criticism on and off, I made friends with one of the great and celebrated concerts pianists of our time. On a river trip, I asked him whether he'd ever learned anything from a review. (Mind you, one of these reviewers was me.) He answered in one word: "No."

I thought about my own writing and concluded, "Me neither."

I left doing criticism behind because I was tired of commenting while other people were doing. I felt like the guys who went to the senior prom, leaned against the nearest wall, and made wisecracks about the dancing styles of their buddies. BUT WHO GOT TO TOUCH THE GIRL?

I wanted to do, not talk.

I admit that I remember negative reviews (fortunately very few). But whether the review is positive or the opposite, I try to give a quick smile or frown, remind myself of the source, and forget them.

--caleb fox