If you're looking for what's successful, follow box-office rankings. 12th Fail (2023) was a rare movie that was loved by critics and made money too.
Kenneth Turan, film critic for the LA Times, didn't enjoy Titanic when the film was released in 1997. AO Scott of The New York Times dismissed the 2012 blockbuster The Avengers as "grinding, hectic emptiness". Both films have thrilled audiences around the world and made hundreds of millions. Meanwhile, restaurant reviews are often out of sync with a user rating on a delivery app. In the book-publishing world, readers and reviews are routinely at loggerheads. Even critical reviews of runway shows can make or break a popular designer.
So, does it help to listen to the critics? Or do the crowds really know more than a handful of experts? It's tricky territory. But here are some general guidelines.
Watch out for exaggeration.
"With new restaurants, "catchphrases such as 'Must Try' and 'Hidden Gem' used without justification are worrying signs", says Nikhil Merchant, blogger and writer. Other suspicious terms: "Offbeat", "Instagram-worthy". For books, steer clear of "This book that will change your life". Wellread folks rarely use it.
Run an authenticity check.
Denne historien er fra May 11, 2024-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 11, 2024-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tasting, tasting, 1,2,3
When you can't decide what to eat, wear loose pants and pick any of these 10 degustation menus across India
His dark materials
Manish Nai turns rusty metal sheets, butter paper and newsprint into textured collages. Nothing is quite what it seems
Not all men. But always a man
The threat of violent rape and murder remains a grim reality for every woman. Why are men still saying Not All Men?
Stream, pause, taste, think
Rene Redzepi's Noma has no permanent location or menu. Everywhere it sets up shop, it's a new experience. How does the TV show, Omnivore, capture it all?
Glow and behold
Expert advice on everything overflowing on the beauty shelves. Retinol, cortisol. Sunscreen, night cream. Cheap tricks, expensive scams. Peptides, ceramides. And all those acids that still seem suss
Design is font and centre
There's room for more than one serif in town these days. Typographers are reworking old logos and giving startups a new look. See how every letter matters
Baby, you make me crazy
Elle Woods before her Legally Blonde era. Cruella before she was evil. A back story for Furiosa. Some origin stories should have just been flashbacks
The Rookie's Guide To Quitting
First jobs can seem like a drag. Earlycareer slump is real. So, how to know when to switch jobs or move to a whole new field? Hear from three people who did it right
Gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
Science has come so far, so fast. But we're still waiting for these fictional gadgets. We'll take them all, thanks
It's a small world after all
The new Mercedes-AMG Coupe has a smaller engine. It's powerful, fast and loaded with tech. But it comes at a price
