Many have read his words. Nearly as many have shaken their heads in abject despair/horror (especially those who've actually taken his advice). He is Earl Dittman.
Dittman is a critic for Wireless Magazine, and he's often blurbed on movie ads and posters. The problem is, every movie he's quoted praising is a total piece of crap. It's so bad that spotting his name virtually guarantees an evening of agony at the multiplex.
Some have wondered whether Dittman actually exists, or whether he's a made-up critic, with opinions generated by the studio publicity department. Well, it turns out he's real, and the website efilmcritic.com actually tracked him down, and interviewed him.
Enjoy.
Posted by phil on February 14, 2004 5:00 PMA serious question (prompted by Dittman's claims of being quoted out-of-context): has anyone here ever had an unenthusiastic or negative review of theirs quoted misleadingly in the artist's or label's publicity, to make it look like you gave the disc a thumbs-up? I'd be interested to hear any anecdotes.....
Posted by: Nate Dorward at February 14, 2004 9:42 PMI wrote an article about Cafe Tacuba in which I said, without having heard their upcoming album: "If they continue on their current trajectory, their next album will be the rock en espanol Kid A." (They'd just released an extremely cool EP full of electronically-tinged avant-rock stuff, and were in the process of recording the full-length follow-up when I interviewed the singer, but he didn't tell me much about what they were up to.) The album came out, and it was a boring move toward the mainstream, or anyhow towards Flaming Lips-esque psychedelia. In other words, nothing at all like Radiohead. But there were my six words, on a big sticker on the front: "The rock en espanol Kid A—Alternative Press." I saw that quote ridiculed in at least two reviews of the album. Pissed me off no end.
Posted by: Phil at February 15, 2004 5:25 AMThat’s a funny read. If only Rex Reed could be so forthcoming I might be able to muster a shred of respect for the man. On an amusing somewhat related note, guitarist Scott Fields actually created ‘critic’Hugh Jarrid of SWINGIN’ THING magazine to review his releases- all negatively. He’s quoted extensively on Scott’s website.
Posted by: derek at February 17, 2004 7:05 AMNate, an "editor" at Cadence once changed "highmindedness" to "highhandedness"--thus tuning a compliment into a criticism. But that's as close as I think I've come to what you're asking about.
Derek, I've always like the way Scott F. posts (authentic) negative reviews on his site. Who else does that?
Posted by: walto at February 26, 2004 1:12 PMWell, good ol' Earl Dittman is the only positive review on "Catwoman" this week. Catwoman! I have noiticed this jackass' name along with Maria Salas from Gems for years. They are the last line of support for the truly fouol movies. It is so obvious. What a joke. Peter Travers is not far behind. And while we are at it, fatboy Ebert is about as bad as all of them. I am for getting rid of all "quotes" on ads. They are 90% crap!
Posted by: Mr. Payola at July 24, 2004 1:08 PMYou must see "Catwoman"! Halle Berry gives the best performance of her career. Sharon Stone makes Hepburn look like a hack. This movie blows "Citizen Kane" out of the water! MEOW!
Maria Salas: It no better than "stepford Wives," it funniest movie ever! But it great!
Posted by: Earl Dittman at July 24, 2004 1:12 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................