Scope SCREEN INDUSTRY VIEWS
CRITICAL FAILURE: THE ABC’S SCREEN TIME
Rochelle Siemienowicz
It’s been three years since David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz farewelled the nation with the final episode of their iconic weekly film-review show, At the Movies. Aired on 9 December 2014, this episode was watched by a metropolitan viewing audience of 726,000 – a testament to the popularity of these illustrious critics who had spent nearly three decades duelling amiably about new-release films. They covered everything from international blockbusters and European arthouse fare, to low-budget Australian features and documentaries. It’s for this latter category – Australian cinema – that Stratton and Pomeranz are most sorely missed, for nothing new has filled the gap in connecting a local viewing audience with the films that are ostensibly made for it.
In our small (and potentially insular) industry, the relationship between reviewers and films has always been a tricky one. Issues of impartiality are always up for discussion – whether it be a case of a critic infected with severe cultural cringe and thus seeming too tough on their compatriots, or of being overly generous to local films and thus ‘going soft’ on them. Both of these criticisms were levelled at Stratton and Pomeranz at various times, but one thing they were never accused of was ignoring Australian cinema. Even filmmaker Greg McLean – whose Wolf Creek 2 (2013) they refused to review, if widespread media reports are to be believed – had only praise when they retired, calling them ‘a genuinely important part of the cultural landscape of cinema in Australia’.
In the years since At the Movies finished up, there have been many rumours of a replacement, with whispers of young, telegenic film critics from around the country being flown to Sydney to audition and test out their screen chemistry. Finally, in October 2017, the ABC broadcast the first episode of its new review program Screen Time, a ten-part half-hour panel show covering not only film, but also television and web content. During this episode, the host, The Chaser’s Chris Taylor, promised that he and
