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Hatchet Job
- Narrated by: Mark Kermode
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
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Hatchet Job
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Summary
The UK's most trusted (and scathing) film reviewer asks: Who needs the professionals now that everyone's a critic? For decades, the backbone of film criticism has been the hatchet job - the entertaining trashing of a film by professional reviewers, seen by many as cynical snobs.
But with the arrival of the internet, have the critics finally fallen under the axe? With movie posters now just as likely to be adorned by Twitter quotes as fusty reviewer recommendations, has the rise of enthusiastic amateurism sounded the death knell of a profession? Are the democratic opportunities of the internet any more reliable than the old gripes and prejudices of the establishment? Can editing really be done by robots? And what kind of films would we have if we listened to what the audience thinks it wants?
Starting with the celebrated TV fight between film-maker Ken Russell and critic Alexander Walker (the former hit the latter with a rolled-up copy of his Evening Standard review on live television) and ending with his own admission to Steven Spielberg of a major error of judgement, Mark Kermode takes us on a journey across the modern cinematic landscape. Like its predecessor, The Good, The Bad & The Multiplex, Hatchet Job blends historical analysis with trenchant opinion, bitter personal prejudices, autobiographical diversions and anecdotes, and laugh-out-loud acerbic humour. It's the perfect book for anyone who's ever expressed an opinion about a movie.
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What listeners say about Hatchet Job
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-11-18
Pure Mark Kermode
If you like Mark Kermode, then I imagine you’ll love this. It weaves together profound thoughts on the function of film criticism and its future with Mark’s trademark wit and self-depreciation. The point made in the book sound like sincere reflections born of hard-earned expertise and introspection. If you don’t like Mark Kermode, you will almost definitely hate it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steven
- 14-10-13
Another Kermode book, top job.
Ok Kermode is not a professional reader, I don’t care, yes he asks rhetorical questions, I don’t care. Yes his reading style is a tad erratic and oddly emphasised. DON’T CARE. The book is a laugh, he’s a laugh, it made me smile.
Note it also had some interesting information in there to.
So basically fun and you learn something. That’s about as much as you can ask of any book.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jack russell
- 14-11-19
The Film Man
A very dry and witty story teller in a world full strange movie related people
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maxi-D
- 11-06-19
reviewing this would be ironic surely?
it's a good book. I'm not going to properly review it because as the book will attest anonymous reviews are pointless and worthless... I'm sure kermode would prefer my non review to be this way.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mendo Shutaro
- 15-10-13
A Kermodian rant, and essay on criticism
I imagine most (or all) listeners will be very familiar with Kermode's film podcast, and so will come to this knowing all about Mark's likes and dislikes. This time he talks in some depth about movie criticism, from it's origins to it's current position in the hands on amateurs on Amazon and the like. There are rants of course, and some of it feels a little forced, but plenty of good points are made too. I'm not sure what the conclusion was, but it was entertaining to listen to.
This is also a surprisingly foul mouthed book, which isn't a problem, just surprising. Away from the shackles of the BBC, Kermode swears like the proverbial trooper.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Verbalevo
- 19-06-16
Kermode on top form
If you're a fan of Kermode, particularly the Mayo and Kermode radio show, then you're really going to enjoy hearing his thoughts and opinions on the present, past and future of film criticism in typically amusing, entertaining and self depreciating fashion. If you're not then why on earth you'd even be considering this is beyond me.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CTC
- 06-02-16
Wittertainment at its best
I've enjoyed everyone of Mark's books, and this is no exception. An honest dissection of the art of film criticism and a concerned exploration of the future for this specialism. Littered with amusing anecdotes and narrated by the man himself. Recommended
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ian
- 17-02-15
Perfectly acceptable book from the Good Doctor
Another fine dissection of the movie industry by Dr. K. Lots of interesting anecdotes recollected with aplomb and insight.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Letitia
- 18-01-14
Kermode's new book is a real treat, Loved it!
Would you listen to Hatchet Job again? Why?
Iwill listen to this book again.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Mark Kermode.
Which character – as performed by Mark Kermode – was your favourite?
the author.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
In a world of critics, he was another one... with a hatchet.
Any additional comments?
Mark Kermode is an excellent movie critic. He has a very engaging style and a real love of film with a wealth of knowledge and a real death of understanding of the art form. Though, you won't ever hear Kermode himself say that. He is self deprecating to a fault and has real warmth and affection for takers of and he audience of cinema in all it's forms. This third book is thoroughly entertaining. I would rank this book as joint close second to his first, “It's only a movie” alongside his second outing, “The good, the bad and the multiplex.” All three are very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable, “It's only a movie” is excellent with the next two far from being the difficult second and third albums. They stand on their own merit and will stand the test of time. The first book is more of a manifesto and a positioning statement, it comes from the writer's heart and is a joy which survives many repeated listens. Looking forward to the next listen and the next book. Brilliant stuff indeed. Thanks Mark.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul S. Turner
- 20-07-14
the wolves of wardour street
Would you listen to Hatchet Job again? Why?
i love Mark Kermode
What did you like best about this story?
Brutal honesty and fantastic stories
What does Mark Kermode bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
His funny wit and insightful anecdotes
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
carry on Kermode
Any additional comments?
nobody else could have narrated this book
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2 people found this helpful