Hatchet Job

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.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A skilled orator giving an insight into his world

Being a relatively recent convert to the @wittertainment podcast and the flappy handed blather of BBC Radio's version of Statler and Waldorf, I looked forward to hearing what the good doctor had to say in book form.

Dr. Kermode is very good at speaking, easy to listen to and, giving that he was speaking words he himself had written it came as no surprise that the delivery was crisp and impassioned in all the right places.

Peppered with humour as well as the rants he is famous for the tale moves on at a brisk pace and is enlightening as to what it means to be a full time film critic, from the arcane days of print media in the 80's when he started, to the digital age in this century. It goes someway to explaining how on earth someone can make a living by watching films and complaining about them while simultaneously admitting that they couldn't have done a better job themselves.

An enjoyable listen which includes my current favourite phrase "turned it up to eleventy-stupid"

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A very intelligent look

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This audio book is like the kermode and mayo show but with out simon stoping kermode ramblings. Mark clearly shows his love of cinema in his thoughtful arguments on a subject which is changing his field of work.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Kermodian flappy hands at their best!

If you know the work of the good Dr. then you know what to expect in this his third book looking at the industry with which he has become synonymous with.

In Hatchet Job Kermode looks at modern film criticism and asks the question 'who needs the professionals now that everyone's a critic?'

Through his flappy handed ramblings and entertaining stories from throughout his career he sets about to discover where the current day professional critic sits alongside reviews written in 140 characters now that everyone is a critic.

Never short of opinion Kermode posses interesting questions about how the world of film criticism is changing but as most blogs are 'graffiti with punctuation' I think he'll be doing fine for some time to come.

A must read for any wittertainment fan!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love Mark but this book is poor compared to others

What would have made Hatchet Job better?

Love Mark and his show but this is poor especially when put up against his two other books which I've listened to. I'll happily go back and listen to random chapters from the early books but this one was just a bit boring. You can only go so far talking about critical review and this finds it out way too soon.

Would you ever listen to anything by Mark Kermode again?

Absolutely

Which scene did you most enjoy?

hmm tough one I could go back and listen again but it kind of says it all that none were memorable

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Hatchet Job?

eek dare i say it I wouldnt have made it :( sorry mark

Any additional comments?

Feel bad jumping on this but I didn't like it at all

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

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.