I mentioned somewhere that I am screening movies (on a volunteer basis) for the Newport Beach Film Festival. To keep the process fair, I can't talk about any of the films, but it should be noted that the email about doing this pointed out that some of the films are good, and some are really bad. The catch is that we have to watch the whole thing (we can't do a 8.5 minute exit like Ebert on Tru Loved).

I've only seen a few shorts and a couple of features so far, and most are adequate for the festival, but one really stunk up my living room. Never knew an hour and a half could be so long.

Of course there are times when I sit through films to review that seem as long (although rarely as bad as the bad NBFF screener). At a screening for A Christmas Tale last weekend, another critic in the elevator to the garage said, "I feel like I've aged." (The film is 153 minutes long. I'm not saying anything about its quality, but it does feel like the whole 153 minutes.)

Any of you have ways you endure those times when the film seems unendurable?

Sudoku. Kakuro. "Sum-doku".
Silly little number puzzles that will allow you to watch the film out of the corner of your eye.

I've been in this predicament a few times. Thankfully not too many. Without making a spectacle of myself, I've tried to compose songs in my head, sometimes playing (subtle) air guitar if needed.

This topic has been moved to the better-suited "Film Criticism and Appreciation" forum...