Here is a hate letter to film critic J. Hoberman on the occasion of his firing from the Village Voice this week. I have zero thoughts on the matter, and many people are very upset about the canning... although I will note that his top ten list of 2011 is... unusual. (J. Edgar is somehow on it! "Mildred Pierce" is tied for tenth! Everyone's least favorite Cronenberg movie of the last 19 years comes in at #1!)
Friday, January 6, 2012
14
Any truth to the rumor that he will be replaced by Armond White?
@Lockheed Ventura Please do not utter such things.
It's like I'm the only one who bothered to watch Spider or something.
Wait, isn't this covering the same ground as this, without referencing it? Are Choire and Balk not even reading each others' posts anymore? WHY ARE DADDY AND DADDY FIGHTING???
@jfruh Because we cry? Oh wait, that's Jesus.
Looks like I picked a good year to only see movies my kid wanted to see.
I'll say this, to Eileen Jones' credit:
I too have noticed in Hoberman (and in equally over-the-hill film critic Dave Denby) a petty, disdainful eye toward the Coen brothers that just reeks of jealousy.
It's especially noticeable with the comedies.
maybe the list was some sort of coded message?
That was angerlicious. Now, I have to read the rest of her stuff.
BTW, Hoberman's list is a great reverse barometer for movie avoidance.
Hoberman hasn't been useful for 25 years.
Even when I disagree with Hoberman, I find him very interesting to read. I'd also like to recommend his book "The Dream Life" which is a history of the US in the 60s, and how it was reflected in contemporary cinema.
http://thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title&metaproductid=1062
Just read the Exiled piece you linked to. It's obnoxious. The usual faux-populist anti-snobbery snobbery. Isn't it possible that Hoberman actually likes the films he champions? I'm no fan of J. Edgar, but the rest of his list is pretty damned good.
Hoberman's book on Midnight Movies set an agenda for me that lasted for years... decades, even, as I only finally saw Flaming Creatures recently. It's one of my all-time favorite books on film. I don't always agree with him, but whatever. He's good.
I loved reading Hoberman,despite several "disagrees" -- and his coverage of Cannes was always fun. I think younger critics like myself need seasoned precursors to learn from every week. (Spare me the baby boomer slash and burn talk unless you're 17: you should grow out of it after about a year of actual experience and some semblance of philosophy -- but happy hit-getting, Eileen!) Still, Hoberman knew who he was lying down with when New Times took over, so I can't really pity him too much.