“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.
