Critiquing critics

So I've recently turned movie critic and as exciting as it sounds, it's beginning to become my albatross.

You see, I'm no cinephile. I'm not familiar with all of Woody Allen's filmography and only recently when a friend was discussing Kubrick, I went 'Stanley, who?' I keep very quiet at movie screenings, where critics around me yap about this director's cinematic skills and the prowess of an actor who I'd have never noticed onscreen if I hadn't eavesdropped on their conversation. I listen to them discuss what their Oscar favourites are, why they think that these films will win, why they loathe the Academy's choices, and why Meryl Streep should just be given a Lifetime Achievement award already.

It's not like I don't have an opinion. I enjoy movies just as much as any of these people here. I also observe proper cinema etiquette, like not loudly discussing how sleepy your taxi driver was on your way to the screening while the movie's playing. But these people intimidate me. I wonder how they'd react if I told them that Elle Woods was one of my favourite characters from cinematic history. I imagine about ten raised eyebrows, muffled laughter and very likely, a sneer. Or four.

I'd like to curl my lip back at them, and just get on with my job, but they worry me. Is this what will happen to me, once I watch more movies with only the intention of critiquing them? As time goes by, will contempt for what's popular set in? Will I feel the need to drop names of award winning European directors during polite conversation with other critics over samosas and wafers during intermission?

Ack.