[End of Feature]

Treat the $5,000 film with the same seriousness you treat the $150M film, but use a different dictionary. Conclusion: The Score is a Feeling, Not a Fact When you publish your next review of an independent feature, consider omitting the grade entirely. Or, if you must include it, write a paragraph justifying the grade.

Independent cinema is the laboratory of the art form. It is supposed to be messy, uneven, and provocative. A perfectly graded indie film—a 7.4 out of 10, evenly paced, well-lit, properly structured—is usually a dull one.

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