The Cinephilicas: Episode #2 - Matt Zoller Seitz (Born on the Fourth of July)

Click here to listen to the episode

“I’m a formalist in some ways and a humanist in others. Those two things don’t reconcile very easily. But ultimately, I don’t see my criticism as anything other than a personal response to what I happen to be writing about, and a lot of that is bound up in where you are in your life.”

Peter sits down with New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz to talk about the many different hats he has worn during his cinephile life, which have included film critic, pop culture journalist, filmmaker, video essayist, blogger, and more. Matt discusses growing up in Texas, discovering New York City, and dissecting some of his favorite filmmakers. The two explore his nature as both a film and TV critic, his discovery and love of video essays, and how The New World inspired one of the best film criticism blogs today. Finally, they dig into the Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July, which Matt explains as one of the quintessential great narratives about a man discovering his true self.

0:00-4:00 – Act One: Establishing Shots — Think Pieces on Aurora

4:10-52:30 – Act Two: Deep Focus – Matt Zoller Seitz

53:33-1:11:38 – Act Three: Double Exposure – Born on the Fourth of July (Oliver Stone)

Read Matt Zoller Setiz’s work at New York Magazine, Salon, Moving Image Source, L Magazine, NY Press, the New York Times, the Dallas Observer, Press Play, and The House Next Door.

Follow Matt on Twitter.

Highlighted Articles by Matt Zoller Setiz

-Terrence Malick’s The New World, and assessing the film's alternate cut

-The Substance of Style, a Five Part Video Essay on Wes Anderson

-Five Great Uses of Contrapuntal Narration.

-Recaps of David Milch and Michael Mann’s Luck

-Recapping the final episode of The Sopranos

-Matt Zoller Seitz and Keith Uhlich debate the merits of Quentin Tarantino

-Video essay on Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs

-On P.T. Anderson’s Magnolia and Boogie Nights

-On P.T. Anderson’s There Will Be Blood

-Recap of Breaking Bad’s “Open House,” featuring the drain shot.