Nothing if Not Critical

Those who have bothered to stick around will recall that, in May, I wrote about Matt Zoller Seitz and Roger Ebert.

For a while now, Matt and two other of my favourite critics, Adrian Martin and Zach Campbell, have been trying to get together to discuss that piece. It’s been difficult. Matt’s in New York, Adrian’s in Spain, and, until very recently, Zach was in the Midwest. I, of course, remain two doors up from Antarctica, so that’s been an issue, too.

We finally got together last weekend. Matt—unfortunately, given the purpose of the call—missed it. I will do a follow-up call with him soon. But Zach, Adrian, and I nevertheless had a long, freewheeling chat about the state of criticism. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the radio and my editing skills (and my voice) are a little rusty. But here’s roughly half of our ninety-minute conversation regardless. It’s occasionally niche and gets into the weeds—and Adrian and I did not know that David Stratton was about to die, in which case we’d doubtless have discussed Stratton’s legacy, too—but, if you’re into movies or critical writing generally, I think you’ll dig it. I hope you do.

I would like to do more of these, so let me know if that’s something in which you’d be interested.