January 7, 2004

More listings.

New York Press Matt Zoller Seitz in the New York Press:

I've been a professional critic and journalist for 13 years now. During that time, I've probably watched thousands of contemporary theatrical films and thousands more on tv or home video.... I've read god knows how many books on film history and theory. I've also made features, an experience that has required me to learn a variety of technical skills... I wish I could say this combination of experience and enrichment brought me closer to understanding what makes a movie great as opposed to good, or enabled me to more effectively persuade readers of a certain movie's merits, or improved my ability to predict which current releases will still be watched and discussed after I'm dead and buried. (That's what all those yearly critics' awards are: a charming attempt to jump-start historical consensus.)

But the truth is, I'm no closer to those goals than I was 13 years ago.

Even so, he's got a top ten list like everybody else, topped by Tim Burton's Big Fish. (Update: See comments below.)

Also in the NYP: Armond White on Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau's My Life on Ice, which "accomplishes storytelling so emotionally effective and formally daring that its direct-to-video release changes current rules of movie-watching."

City Pages "Four City Pages film critics have assembled year-end Top 10s, and there isn't a single movie we can all agree on." Yes, it was that kind of year. Even so, as for #1's, two critics go for Love & Diane, two for Kill Bill.

And of course, another reminder: "The speed of this medium is dizzying. I'm having to juggle dead kids, missing Negroes, Meg Ryan's lips, the Brooklyn starting times of Peter Pan, and scores more e-mails about all the subjects (and movies) we're failing to address." Yes, they're having a grand ol' time in Slate's "Movie Club." Also: Mimi Swartz writes that 50s-era Hollywood gave women two options, two ways of responding to growing older. In the 80s came a third; now, with Something's Gotta Give and Calendar Girls, there's a welcome fourth.



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Posted by dwhudson at January 7, 2004 9:28 AM

Comments

i really suggest reading the entire matt zoller seitz piece in the new york press. every few months he writes pieces like this about what it's like to be a critic in the current film industry and he usually has enlightening things to say. it's a nice change of pace from only reading reviews in your local alternative weekly.

Posted by: marc at January 7, 2004 11:52 AM

Marc, many thanks for your comment, particularly because it's only now that I realize that the way I've contextualized that link could be interpreted as snidely critical - not my intention at all!

In fact, I clipped that bit from the piece precisely because it was my favorite bit. In other words, I *admire* the admission, even sympathize with it.

Also, overall, even though the NYP often ruffles my feathers on its political pages, I nearly always enjoy reading Matt Zoller Seitz and Armond White, both of whom I find provocative - in the good sort of way.

Posted by: David Hudson at January 7, 2004 1:37 PM

Thanks for the clarification on your post. I've been reading Matt Zoller Seitz's work in the NY Press for a number of years, and it's always a blast to read, even when he leads me down a critical path I'm not happy with (Sleepy Hollow and Lakeboat come to mind). If you like reading MZS, I recommend checking out his TV writing in the Star-Ledger: http://www.nj.com/tv/ledger/

Posted by: marc at January 7, 2004 10:25 PM

Armond White is a joke.

Posted by: Dan at January 8, 2004 4:10 PM