Did he ever explain why he does that word stretch thing at the end of sentences?
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Probably a British verbal tic.
It's not a British thing, it's either just how he speaks or he's slowing down his delivery and trying to enunciate clearly and just does it too much. If someone speaks slowly and emphasises a point, that is how they do it, he just overdoes it slightly
I'll say. I thought there was something wrong with him. I'm not a fan of the guy, and I can't tolerate his videos long enough to pick on the finer points of his technique, but for all I know, this review could be spot on. It's a decent review, and it makes me want to give his shows another chance. Here's hoping I can get past those goddamn affectations of his.
Book me today! I also review weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
I like his reviews for the content but his mannerisms are almost unbearably annoying.
I can't get through a video for long enough to say I can agree with him or not. He's got one of the most annoying voices I've ever heard. His voice is so incredibly whiny and loud and obnoxious and his dragging out the last syllable in every sentence certainly doesn't help matters. It's that last little bit of obnoxious that just puts it even more over the top than it already is.
I honestly can't see how he became so popular with how obnoxious he is.
The most consistent reviewer on TGTWTG. Well, that depends on what you value. A sarcastic kid with a speech impediment, no screen presence, no charisma, no taste, hokey humor, and frankly no talent be more consistent than MikeJ? Lupa? Linkara?
But if you want unintimidating, amateur hour videos by somebody who doesn't make you think, yeah, he's pretty consistent.
I'm a skeptical squirrel
@Johnnyfrog
As far as I know he doesn't have a speech impediment. To be honest, of the critics you mentioned...unless it's a really good Linkara vid, Film brain sounds the most professional in his critiques (though Lupa's whole deal is that she isn't hard line). Secondly, I'm not sure what qualifies as "makes you think" since the OP gives a list of examples.
illegitematus non carborundum est
^This. Film Brain's no idiot, and he doesn't just try to tell jokes; he specifically points out what does and doesn't work in a film, such as criticizing offensive material. If you're looking for something mostly philosophical or academic, then you're demanding something the video never claimed to offer in the first place, because his videos are movie reviews, not commentaries on or discussions of the medium.
No, that's precisely all he does. Sarcastic remarks are still jokes. There is zero professionalism in his critiques, he's just being another angry smartass. And you know what? He should do it in print. He's got a face for radio.
I'm a skeptical squirrel
Maybe sometimes his sarcastic remarks are intended as funny, but there are plenty of times when they're not. Thus, they're not jokes.
@fog Setting aside tastes in attractiveness, how was that dig necessary?
It wasn't. He's just being an angry hater for the sake of it, because we're on teh interwebz.
@fog. "There is zero professionalism in his critiques."
Didn't I just see you give a glowing review (including comparisons to Plato) to Zero Punctuation?
Back to Film Brain, I wouldn't say he's my favourite reviewer on TGWTG (That'd probably be Todd in the Shadows) but he's one of the most reliable people on there. Whether I want to see a funny movie review or an informative movie review, he doesn't disappoint.
"Didn't I just see you give a glowing review (including comparisons to Plato) to Zero Punctuation?"
Haha, oh the irony.
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Excellent and solid film reviewer and humourist.
There are a many reviewers on TGWTG and I believe that Mathew Buck or “Film Brain” is among the best. What makes a good reviewer is someone who takes a crappy film and makes the review far more interesting to watch than the film itself a la MST 3 K. Mr Buck reviews mediocre-to-terrible films in a format similar to Screenwipe, whereby a British person tears apart a subject using snark and logic. His tendency to stretch out the last word in his sentences may grate on some but there’s a lot of good in his favor.
He always does his research beforehand and he'll give us background on a troubled production. He knows the principles of storytelling and can tell when a film suffers in the pacing department. He’s wary if the subject matter of the film may be upsetting so he’ll post a disclaimer and will cut gags if they are Too Soon. He’s willing to concede that the film may have a good performance or moment. He’s modest and not above making himself the punchline.
Did I mention he's funny? He's also funny.
The best parts of his reviews is when he reviews a film on a critical level. He’ll call out a film that:
It also helps that there are few annoying gimmicks on his show. He doesn't have a mad scientist or hobo alter-ego, he doesn't use Top 10 lists, there aren’t any storylines, there’s little continuity, and he restrains himself to a few catchphrase and the odd crossover. He wasn’t much good starting off since he employed many gimmicks like these, but he got much better after the first season. I believe that Mr Buck is the most consistent reviewer of TGWTG in terms of quality, and I hope he continues to suffer through the worst films cinema has given us.