Nell's book, photo by David Apatoff
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing famed movie critic Nell Minow, or Movie Mom. You can get more information on her here.
Let's get right to it:
Tom Clocker: Nell, You have been writing using the persona “Movie Mom” for quite some time now. Where did you get the idea to start writing movie reviews from the viewpoint of a mother? How did you gain such popularity?
Nell Minow: I always loved movies and writing about movies. I was the movie critic for my high school and college papers and studied film history and criticism in college. Then I went to law school and did other things, occasionally writing about film and television.
When my children were young I noticed that many parents were frustrated with the lack of information about the content and quality of movies. I started my first website in 1995, when sites numbered in the hundreds and not one publication or corporation was online. I started writing reviews and the internet grew up around me! I wrote a book called "The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies" and began reviewing movies on the radio. Eventually, Yahoo asked me to be their critic and later I moved to Beliefnet.
Tom: Are your reviews general enough for those without kids to get advice about whether or not to spend money to see a movie, or do you focus solely on the content for the younger children?
Nell: My reviews are for anyone -- I cover everything any critic does with the extra information about any material that may be inappropriate for children or teenagers. Parents need more guidance on PG-13s and Rs than on the movies for younger children because PG-13 has the widest range, from mild to very raunchy, and because these are the movies kids go to without their parents. Some readers who have no children tell me they like my reviews because they like to avoid graphic violence or explicit sex.
Tom: You don’t have to get into too much detail since everyone can check out the full article from The Washington Post, but it seems like you are incredibly busy with your two jobs: Movie Mom, and Corporate Analyst. How do you find the time to see several movies a week, write reviews, and participate in many radio interviews in addition to your second career? Sounds like you should throw in some seminars on Time Management while you’re at it.
Nell: I never use the word "busy" about myself or let anyone else use it about me. In Washington, especially, it is often used in a macho way by people who want to make themselves seem important. Even worse, it is often used by people to explain why they are not doing things they should or would like to do. I told my children if someone says, "I'm too busy" it means "what you're asking about is not important to me."
It takes a lot of courage and honesty to take responsibility for the decisions about what you will and won't do. Sometimes I miss a meeting for a movie. Sometimes I miss a movie for a meeting. But I am always clear with myself and my colleagues and family about what my priorities are. And my family comes first, always.
Tom: If circumstances ever forced you to pick one of your two jobs, and we all hope that never happens, which one would get the boot?
Nell: I'll bet if one job ended, instead of doing the other full-time, I'd find another part-time job. I'm A.D.D. and find the feeling of going back and forth between two things both soothing and energizing!
Tom: Did you have to see movies twice when your kids were growing up: once without them to approve it as “Movie Mom,” and then again with them as just “mom?”
Nell: Sometimes! My kids were great about watching the classics with me. I had an annual MomFest, where I would select old movies based on their interests or activities and we would watch one every day.
Tom: I’m sure everyone wants to know: What is your favorite movie? And, if it is different, what is your favorite Kid’s or Family movie?
Nell: I was supposed to write a book with 200 movies and it ended up with 500, so I have a lot of favorites! But my all-time favorite is The Philadelphia Story. Other favorites include To Have and Have Not, His Girl Friday, Ball of Fire, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Music Man, Yellow Submarine, and many more!
Tom: Finally, do you have any advice for aspiring movie critics? What does it take to become successful and get noticed in a world where anyone with a computer can be an on-line movie critic?
Nell: I have the same advice for any aspiring writer -- write! Learn as much as you can and write as much as you can. Have a distinctive voice and point of view. Your reviews have to be lively and informative.
I wrote more than 500 reviews before I got paid for it. Dana Stevens was an unemployed PhD who wrote reviews for her own website that were so good within a year she was writing for the NY Times and is now the movie critic for Slate. This is the best time in history for a writer because anyone can be published. On Rotten Tomatoes, all the critics are right next to each other, print and online, so if you're good, people will read you. Anyone who has talent, courage, and dedication can make it happen.
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Well, there you have it. A fantastic interview with Nell Minow, aka Movie Mom.
Nell, I would like to sincerely thank you. It’s easy to see that your time is valuable and on behalf of myself, mothers everywhere, and movie fans in general, thank you for taking the time.
Keep those CEOs and Filmmakers on the top of their games and the country will be better for it! Thank You.
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Check out some reviews:X-men Origins: Wolverine, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Star Trek, Land of the Lost, The Hangover, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Year One, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Public Enemies.
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