Should we watch movies to 'escape' harsh realities?
Renowned film critic David Thomson reflects on the true value of films, and why we should be wary of seeing them as escapist entertainment.
Celebrated film critic David Thomson was on the show to talk about his new book, How to Watch a Movie — but with Paris on everyone's mind, guest host Tom Power started the conversation there.
Thomson comments on a nationalistic scene from Casablanca that's been getting shared since the attack.
The critic argues that we should grieve, we should be horrified, but playing national anthems and otherwise "grasping at cliches" isn't the answer.
"Don't go to movies to escape," says Thomson. "As we've seen, there is no escape. Don't forget about the world, it won't forget about you."
He also comments on the true power of watching stories on screens, and how the very identity of movies is changing.
q: Do you watch movies to "escape" difficult realities? What do you make of Thomson's concerns with doing just that?