He Lost It at the Movies

5 days ago

A.S. Hamrah gained attention with capsule reviews starting in 2008 for n+1, offering a negating alternative to mainstream film criticism inspired by figures like Manny Farber.
His work emphasizes political critique, opposition to commercial culture, and a focus on directors with 'hardness' like Chantal Akerman and Stanley Kubrick, while often portraying film history as a story of decline.
Hamrah's writing is characterized by a defiant, combative tone, using sharp contrasts and negative assessments that sometimes undermine accuracy and coherence, drawing comparisons to critics like Pauline Kael but with less quotation of sources.
He critiques modern film culture, including Rotten Tomatoes, streaming services, and superhero movies, positioning himself as a holdout against mainstream inanities, though his approach can veer into dismissive or scattergun rhetoric.
Despite occasional misrepresentations and strained logic, Hamrah has become a key critic for cinephiles, with collections like 'The Earth Dies Streaming' and 'Algorithm of the Night' showcasing his idiosyncratic style and ruminations on film history.

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