Support Your Local Film Critic!

What's the point of a locally based movie critic?

I could go on, but briefly here's the big deal: Traditionally, movie fans have enjoyed active reader-writer relationships with the film-reviewing guy or gal at the local paper.

A movie fan, over time, learns what to expect -- love, hate, agree, disagree -- from the local film critic.

Ideally, the local movie reviewer entertains, educates and offers insight on what he or she sees. A strong local critic can also keep underpublicized movies from falling through the cracks and can shine a light on local filmmakers, film festivals and film-related organizations.

That's called ARTS COVERAGE, and we still need it.

That reader-writer relationship, a real connection with a flesh-and-blood person at the local media outlet (rather than a reviewer from some distant locale) helps keep readers reading and viewers viewing.

(All of this is a bit of media history and common sense that seems to be lost on the new breed of axe-happy editors at newspapers around Florida and across the country).

Long story short: Bob Ross was one of those longtime locally based critics who had a vital relationship with readers. He had a high profile, reviewing for TV and radio in addition to providing film coverage and writing about multiple areas of arts and entertainment for his print-outlet home.

Now, though, he's been set free, so to speak. And you can find Bob's reviews online at Bob Ross Movies. Check out his site as soon as you can.

And don't neglect to read and correspond with the full-time film critics still standing in the Tampa Bay area -- Steve Persall at the St. Petersburg Times and Lance Goldenberg at Creative Loafing/Tampa.

Full disclosure: Bob, Steve, Lance and I all belong to the Florida Film Critics Circle. For a complete list of members and contact information, click here. I continue to write about movies for several daily and weekly newspapers, including Las Vegas City Life, the St. Petersburg Times and Folio Weekly.