The defence The Auteur Devotee
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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Black Widow
Mystery · Drama · 1954
When a young stage hopeful is found dead, suspicion falls on her mentor, a successful Broadway producer.
Movie details
Black Widow
“Someone will kill this girl tonight!”
1954 Mystery · Drama 1h 35m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.4 / 10
Community rating
When a young stage hopeful is found dead, suspicion falls on her mentor, a successful Broadway producer.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Black Widow?
For the defence
The Auteur Devotee
“You watch the director, not the movie.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Before and After
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Two parents deal with the effects when their son is accused of murdering his girlfriend.
The Cat's Meow
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Semi-true story of the Hollywood murder that occurred at a star-studded gathering aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924.
Witness for the Prosecution
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Hamlet
Drama · 1996
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Othello
Drama · 1951
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Hamlet
Drama · 1948
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Opening Night
Drama · 1977
Actress Myrtle Gordon is a functioning alcoholic who is a few days from the opening night of her latest play, concerning a woman distraught about aging. One night a car kills one of Myrtle's fans who is chasing her limousine in an attempt to get the star's attention. Myrtle internalizes the accident and goes on a spiritual quest, but fails to finds the answers she is after. As opening night inches closer and closer, fragile Myrtle must find a way to make the show go on.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Nunnally Johnson
Written by
Hugh Wheeler · Nunnally Johnson · Richard W. Webb
Van Heflin
Peter Denver
Reginald Gardiner
Brian Mullen
Gene Tierney
Iris Denver
Peggy Ann Garner
Nancy Ordway
Ginger Rogers
Carlotta Marin
George Raft
Detective Bruce
Virginia Leith
Claire Amberly
Court is in session
Put Black Widow on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.