Matt Zoller Seitz
-
Press Play2 commentslike6tweet33
Pablo Larraín's NO: A Movie That Says Yes To Itself
The Chilean film "No," written and directed by Pablo Larraín, is up for a foreign film Oscar this year. I hope it wins, if only to bring attention to an extraordinary film by an increasingly sophisticated director.
Read More » -
Press Play13 commentslike28tweet19
The Unknown Unknowns: Just How “Ambiguous” is David Fincher’s ZODIAC?
The following is a conversation about David Fincher's 2007 film "Zodiac." It was inspired by Twitter conversation about whether it is, in fact, an ambiguous movie, as many have claimed, or if it only seems that way; if it's open, closed, or somewhere in between.
Read More » -
Press Play0 commentslike26tweet69
VIDEO ESSAY: Gangster Culture in the Movies
"He used to be a big shot." That's how a gangster's girlfriend describes him as she cradles his corpse at the end of "The Roaring Twenties." But the line could be plugged into any gangster film that ends with a tough-talking, two-fisted, hot-tempered alpha male cooling his heels in prison, frying in...
Read More » -
Press Play4 commentslike31tweet12
The Sensible Craft of Ben Affleck's ARGO
Ben Affleck's third directing effort, "Argo," is funnier than expected, is expertly paced, and has a fantastic 70s look (the most convincing since Zodiac), plus knockout supporting performances by Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, and John Goodman in very colorful roles.
Read More » -
Press Play4 commentslike35tweet33
Beyond the Veil of the Flesh: David Cronenberg's THE FLY (1986) on Blu-ray
I’m glad I re-watched David Cronenberg’s 1986 version of "The Fly" on Blu-ray. I haven't watched it in decent resolution since I saw it in a theater on first release. It's still brilliant and perfect, and profoundly moving—maybe Cronenberg's greatest and most perfect film; a horror tragedy that does...
Read More » -
Press Play6 commentslike39tweet31
The Revolution Was Televised: The Conversation
I worked with HitFix.com television critic Alan Sepinwall at the Star-Ledger of Newark for nine years, 1997-2006. We shared the TV beat together throughout that period, writing reviews and features, and collaborating on a daily column of news and notes titled "All TV."
Read More » -
Press Play0 commentslike34tweet0
PRESS PLAY THEATER: Preston Miller's GOD'S LAND (2010)
This is Press Play Theater, a streaming video feature that showcases notable work by independent filmmakers in one-week exclusive runs. Our debut offering is God’s Land, the second feature by Long Island-based director Preston Miller.
Read More » -
Press Play1 commentlike123tweet76
VIDEO ESSAY: ON THE Q.T.: Chapter 2: PULP FICTION (The Cool)
Quentin Tarantino’s films treat talk as action; torrents of words spill out of his characters' mouths, defining and redefining them, in their own eyes and in the eyes of the world.
Read More » -
Press Play1 commentlike283tweet0
In Remembrance of Harris Savides: 1957-2012
Cinematographer Harris Savides, who died yesterday at 54, was a poet of light. He shot some of the stylistically striking movies of the last two decades.
Read More » -
Press Play12 commentslike59tweet16
From Brooklyn With Love: Notes on Unsophistication
When I dashed off a little rant about snarky commenters who annoyed me during a revival screening of "From Russia With Love," I didn't expect it to strike a nerve. Apparently it did. I wouldn't take back any of it—I said what I said, and meant all of it. But I would like to clarify a few points in t...
Read More »
fresh from the blogs
-
Critic and Filmmaker Spar on Facebook over Sundance ...Criticwire
-
What Are You Seeing This Weekend? 'Would You Rather' ...The Playlist
-
Starting TONIGHT: Richard Pryor Retrospective At BAM, ...Shadow and Act
-
Berlin: Damon on Affleck’s ‘Rough Spot,’ 'Promised ...Thompson on Hollywood
-
Hollywood Sexist of the Day: Rex ReedWomen and Hollywood
-
VIDEO ESSAY: Why SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK Should Win ...Press Play
-
Good Night, Lost Boy(s)The Lost Boys
-
SIDE EFFECTSLeonard Maltin
on 
