Movie Geeks United is a podcast featuring in depth movie reviews, interviews with guests from the film industry, and lively discussions about the past, present, and future of film. Recently, Movie Geeks contributor Jamey DuVall and critic Tony Macklin, have recorded a series of conversations entitled "Critical Perspectives." The depth and wit both exude in their talks are like a film school in themselves.
DuVall's easy going style serves as a nice counterpoint to Macklin's acerbic take on contemporary movies. From 1965-1977, Macklin edited the scholarly journal Film Heritage. During those years he conducted several interviews with many important figures from Hollywood history such as Alfred Hitchcock, John Wayne, and Howard Hawks. The Film Heritage interviews are available online. They are well worth your time.
In a recent episode devoted to film comedy Macklin and DuVall covered Chaplin, Apatow, and everyone in between. DuVall tends to favor only high and low humor, while Macklin prefers comedy with melancholy undertones. Other shows have covered American movies of the 1970s, the Sight & Sound list of the greatest films, and the evolution of film criticism.
A generation ago movie critics played a crucial role in fostering a vibrant film culture. Roger Ebert won the Pulitzer Prize for his film writing in 1975 and inspired many on his television show Siskel & Ebert. Pauline Kael's reviews in the New Yorker serve as a sort of history of the era and at their best read like literature. And many other critics wrote with passion and eloquence on the art of film. Nowadays anyone can be a critic, but often the best voices are muted in the cacophony of noise on the web. Movie Geeks helps keep the spirit of informed criticism alive.
The "Critical Perspectives" series can be accessed at the Movie Geeks United home page and Mr. Macklin's website. You should check them out.
No comments:
Post a Comment