Well, I think a film is either good or bad. The films of John Ford, America’s greatest fimmaker right, were entertaining as heck. When I’m watching The Searchers I’m not thinking about the artistic value of the piece. I’m thinking John Wayne is one brutal, racist son of a gun. Most powerful performance in screen history. What a great performance.
Maybe there is a fine line for me anyway between what I consider great and entertaining to what is art. I’m entertained in a much different way when I watch Raider’s of the Lost Ark. What fun that movie is and no less as great as the Searchers in my mind.
The impact of Wayne’s character on you is part of its artistic value.
Uhm, the film was filmed before the term "racist" became a, how shall we put it, a fashion statement.