Upstairs at Caroline
What's Wrong With Sentiment in Films?
RECEIVED Thu., June 7, 2007
Dear Editor,
I just wrote a brief and smartassed response to Josh Rosenblatt's review of Knocked Up [Film Listings, June 1]. I don't know why, at this time, I finally chose to write a response, when I've disagreed with Mr. Rosenblatt on numerous films, some of which I liked even better than Apatow's latest effort. I realize the attention I'm seeking here is better suited for the classroom. It's not that I want to debate (I'm hardly qualified), I just can't understand why Mr. Rosenblatt so consistently dislikes sentiment in films? I understand they must not be overtly manipulative, but a certain degree of manipulation is required for effect. And given the subject matter of a film like Knocked Up, sentiment is likely to turn up more often than in, say, Army of Shadows. I believe the amount of manipulation used in both of these films probably turns out to be about the same (a deceitfully safe statement, I think, since we can't actually measure). The manipulation is simply of a different kind. But then, Mr. Rosenblatt is entitled to his opinion, as I am to mine. He is right to call attention to the fact that we require restraint. I just don't think it was warranted in this case. I can't believe Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries is any less sentimental than Knocked Up. Wild Strawberries might be even more sentimental than Knocked Up. The films simply require room to move about. We should not smother sentiment because it threatens, for a moment, to overwhelm the intellect.
I just wrote a brief and smartassed response to Josh Rosenblatt's review of Knocked Up [Film Listings, June 1]. I don't know why, at this time, I finally chose to write a response, when I've disagreed with Mr. Rosenblatt on numerous films, some of which I liked even better than Apatow's latest effort. I realize the attention I'm seeking here is better suited for the classroom. It's not that I want to debate (I'm hardly qualified), I just can't understand why Mr. Rosenblatt so consistently dislikes sentiment in films? I understand they must not be overtly manipulative, but a certain degree of manipulation is required for effect. And given the subject matter of a film like Knocked Up, sentiment is likely to turn up more often than in, say, Army of Shadows. I believe the amount of manipulation used in both of these films probably turns out to be about the same (a deceitfully safe statement, I think, since we can't actually measure). The manipulation is simply of a different kind. But then, Mr. Rosenblatt is entitled to his opinion, as I am to mine. He is right to call attention to the fact that we require restraint. I just don't think it was warranted in this case. I can't believe Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries is any less sentimental than Knocked Up. Wild Strawberries might be even more sentimental than Knocked Up. The films simply require room to move about. We should not smother sentiment because it threatens, for a moment, to overwhelm the intellect.
Facetiously,
Timothy Sparks
Timothy Sparks