'It's Only a Movie' by Mark Kermode

[Maurice]

published by Random House on 4 Feb.



Today's Times

'Mark Kermode: the new Jonathan Ross?'

by Stephen Dalton:



"IT'S ONLY A MOVIE offers a droll account of Kermode's rise to becoming the most prominent, and extravagantly quiffed, movie pundit in Britain...."



Times Online | News and Views from The Times and Sunday Times

[Steve Crook]

name='Maurice']published by Random House on 4 Feb.



Today's Times

'Mark Kermode: the new Jonathan Ross?'

by Stephen Dalton:



"IT'S ONLY A MOVIE offers a droll account of Kermode's rise to becoming the most prominent, and extravagantly quiffed, movie pundit in Britain...."



Times Online | News and Views from The Times and Sunday Times

Direct link to the article

Mark Kermode: the new Jonathan Ross? - Times Online



Steve

[AdrianTurner]

I hope Kermode takes over Barry Norman's chair - it's been cold for far too long. Kermode's book sounds interesting and perfect for in-flight entertainment - the title, by the way, has been previously co-opted by Alex Walker, himself the proud owner of an elaborate coiffeur.

[charliekane]

name='AdrianTurner']I hope Kermode takes over Barry Norman's chair - it's been cold for far too long. Kermode's book sounds interesting and perfect for in-flight entertainment - the title, by the way, has been previously co-opted by Alex Walker, himself the proud owner of an elaborate coiffeur.

I'm sure everyone know but,just in case they don't, the quote is attributed to Alfred Hitchcock when Ingrid Bergman pressed him on the logic of a scene and her character's motivation in the story - he replied 'It's only a movie, Ingrid.'



On a different point, isn't it a bit weird and egotistical to see a film critic writing his autobiography ? Like Barry Norman and Michael Parkinson, their 'lives' are based on the fame and talent of the people that they have met rather than their own brilliance or ingenuity. Norman in particular liked to point out how he had supposedly punctured the egos of the likes of Robert De Niro and John Wayne - neither of whom probably even remembered the incident or the interviewer. How often does he or Parkinson - or Mark Kermode or Jonathan Ross - appear in a true star's autobiography ? Does that indicate their 'importance' ?

[Rowdon]

Well, they're critics. And critics rarely if ever get recognised as having any effect whatsoever on anybody famous or their work. However much they may deserve recognition.

[julian_craster]

I always felt that taking on the name 'Kermode' was a smart move....



Frank Kermode was the Chancellor of London University for many years, and like many others, I assumed Mark K was his son !



Until Mark K says something nice about Dame Anna Neagle (without his trademark sneer) he is lacking as far as I am concerned......



Let's see - now which prestigeous academic's surname can I can I adopt ?



'Smith' or 'Jones' are too common and are not distinctivive enough, but 'Julian Dawkins' sounds good to me, and should open a few doors !

[CaptainWaggett]

name='julian_craster']I always felt that taking on the name 'Kermode' was a smart move....



Frank Kermode was the Chancellor of London University for many years, and like many others, I assumed Mark K was his son !



Until Mark K says something nice about Dame Anna Neagle (without his trademark sneer) he is lacking as far as I am concerned......



Let's see - now which prestigeous academic's surname can I can I adopt ?



'Smith' or 'Jones' are too common and are not distinctivive enough, but 'Julian Dawkins' sounds good to me, and should open a few doors !

Kermode is his mother's maiden name. He has consistently denied being related to Frank Kermode (and didn't change his name until after he got his Phd). And I suspect 25 years of jokes about his father'surname had got a little wearing...(not that Fairey isn't a fine old East End name!)

[Windthrop]

The title 'It's Only A Movie' was once a column in a movie magazine by John Brosnan and before that a favorite phrase of Alfred Hitchcock

[Robin Davies]

As Kermode is a horror fan I suspect he may have been thinking of the ad line for Last House On The Left - "To avoid fainting, keep repeating - it's only a movie...only a movie...only a movie..."

[m35541]

To be fair to Kermode he has written a few books and also done stuff such as tracked down and found censored footage from The Devils.

[penfold]

And he (and Matthew Sweet) are regular faces at the BFI Library....I never saw Mr Ross there...

[julian_craster]

Mark K doesn't look like a fairy to me - although he is married to one of those strange, militantly feminist film academics......



I hope she does not give him a rough time !

[m35541]

I never saw Mr Ross there

If i was earning $6m per year I'd get someone to do my research for me.



To be fair on Ross he did a lot of stuff about 20 years ago pioneering various "cult directors" such as Al Adamson and John Waters and di a whole series of documentaries.

[Monkeymanbob]

Finish this yesterday. Couple of good annecdotes and laughs, but he does tend to go off on a tangent.

Used Xmas vouchers to buy it, otherwise I would have been a bit peeved. Expected something more substantial. If anyone wants my copy then let me know.

[fluddite]

name='julian_craster']I always felt that taking on the name 'Kermode' was a smart move....



Frank Kermode was the Chancellor of London University for many years, and like many others, I assumed Mark K was his son !



Let's see - now which prestigeous academic's surname can I can I adopt ?



'Smith' or 'Jones' are too common and are not distinctivive enough, but 'Julian Dawkins' sounds good to me, and should open a few doors !

I was once told (by someone who met him) that Frank Kermode always insisted on having his surname pronounced "kerr-modd". Can't imagine why....



As for adopting the surnames of eminent critics as your own - might I suggest either our excellent home-grown Rabelasian, the Rev. M .A. Screech; or this other Great Man Of The Cloth:



[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Ong]Walter J. Ong - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

[Film Man]

M.K also insists on being called Kerr-Modd...I don't think he has that 'TV Profile' to present such an important show...more concerned about how he looks! Get Parkinson back is what I say...a man who knew his films...wasn't afraid to speak out...and someone you can watch.

Film Man.

[Captain Casper]

I have a lot of time for Mark Kermode. I'm very surprised he hasn't been given the Film 20xx chair. The guy knows his stuff and sure does his homework. He seems to have been around forever, just rattling round Broadcasting House giving 5 minutes here and there and the odd obit.



Hope to see more of him when Ross goes to the US.

[muswellmovies]

I have always been somewhat embarrassed by Mr Commodes desperate attention seeking and remain unconvinced by his views on film. I wish that he had attached himself to some other field than the movies about which I have never heard him say anything of the slightest interest.

I understand that he performs in a skiffle group and is also a lay preacher perhaps he should concentrate his efforts there.