Reviews are one person's opinion of a piece of art. Typically the reviewer isn't an artist, just a single audience member. As such, that's how much they matter. They're only one person's opinion. You might be lucky enough that they like what you do and sometimes not. They're writing their opinion in public so sometimes that's cool and sometimes it sucks. I read them but more out of curiosity, the same curiosity I have when talking to anyone else who has an opinion about my work.

Anyway, read this review that appeared in the 9/23/05 issue of Entertainment Weekly for a little movie called Thumbsucker. Imagine you're the lead actor who's basically making his "big" film debut.

Lou Pucci Justin (Lou Pucci), the 17-year-old hero of Thumbsucker, is one of those long-haired indie-flick adolescent pretty-boys who act out their deep reservoirs of disaffection by not saying very much. Adapted from Walter Kirn's 1999 novel, the film isn't nearly as witty as its source, but just as you're growing weary of its shaggy morose cool, Justin, who has never stopped sucking his thumb, is put on Ritalin, and he becomes a debate-team champion -- a precocious star, reveling in his mouthy superiority. Alas, his newfound jerkdom doesn't last, but even after the film returns to its alt-rock-flavored preciousness, Pucci proves to be one of the most charismatic male ingenues since Johnny Depp.

A mixed review for the film that seems to give away the ending. The actor however goes from being skewered in the opening line to being given a huge compliment in the last. I hope the actor or anyone who cares about the review takes the time to read the whole thing. Yikes!

I imagine starring in a movie is scary. Having to suck your thumb even scarier.

Madie