comment #1

MattM says ...

A large part of this relates to the fact that Seitz's wife died very young and quite unexpectedly two years ago today.

comment #2

LYT says ...

I applaud him for having the balls to quit and become a filmmaker. I hope to do the same one day.

That said, it seems strange to do so while saying "There's more to life than movies." Making them requires a lot more love and commitment (and dedication of time) than writing about them.

I wish him the best.

comment #3

Joe Leydon says ...

"Family? Loved ones? Movies were invented, in part, so you can occasionally escape from these good people. They're fine and good in their various time slots (weeknight dinners, Sunday morning, Thanksgiving, the occasional outing or vacation) but 'family and loved ones' are certainly not my source of peace or serenity on a day-to-day basis. If you want to be hard-but-honest about it, you could refer to 'family' and "'oved ones' as your jailers."

Now how can I ask this dipolomatically....? Hmmm. Well, actually, there is no diplomatic way to ask. Never mind.

comment #4

Monument says ...

It's kind of cool to see a critic try to put his money where his mouth is. Good luck to him.

comment #5

4th grade army says ...

Jeff, we all know what a miserable prick you are, but you seem to love to reinforce it time and again with this kind of base level, judgmental horseshit you project. You are in love with your negativity; you radiate it, like it somehow provides you with an identity in a world which you feel so very powerless.

Yesterday you spew vitriolic hate at Kal Penn, and call him an idiot, despite the fact he's teaching Asian studies at U Penn. Today you rag on a great critic for wanting to make a change in his life.

Rather than wish this man good luck in his life for wanting to experience "something more," and mourn the fact that his writing won't be read anymore, you take it as an insult at your own decision to eat, breath and sleep your job.

Also, It's not like he's going to make a pilgrimage to the fucking Himalaya’s and meditate with a Sanyasi for the rest of his life. He wants to become a filmmaker. To experience film from another perspective. The escapism factor is still a part of his life. You don't lose it if you're not a critic.

Your writing, as passionate as it can be sometimes, gives me the feeling that you have almost no joy in your life. And rather than giving that idea a good hard look, you justify it by saying its part of the deal. That's a very child-like defensive attitude.

Just sayin'

comment #6

BurmaShave says ...

Wells will forgive him though, because he's thin.

comment #7

Noel Murray says ...

Given what Matt has gone through in the past few years, I think this kind of chastisement is in poor taste. I'm going to assume you weren't aware that Matt lost his wife; and I'm going to assume that you'll apologize to him at the first opportunity.

comment #8

gruver1 says ...

Wells to 4th grade Army: The only people who don't seem to understand or accept what a coarse, slovenly, low-rent atmoisphere Kal Penn puts out with his performances are the people who wrote in yesterday and complained about my having called a spade a spade. The man is an animal.

I'm fine with any film critic wanting to become a filmmaker -- totally at peace with that notion, and supportive of anyone who can make a go of it. I just don't happen to feel that being "happy" is necessarily the fruit of doing something you're good at. I'm with Pvt. Robert E. Lee Prewitt's philosophy, which is that "a man should be what we can do."

I've wanted to do nothing but dream up ideas and write screenplays and whatnot, but I've never been able to put enough money back to afford to live off savings for more than a very few (and I mean very few) months. I don't know what Seitz's income situation is, but more power to him if he can afford to do what he says he wants to do.

comment #9

Studly Semite says ...

Whether or not Matt lost his wife, this post is more about Welles bitterness and shadenfreude. Wells, I've read your writing. Your script is as good as anything out there so start hustlin to get your stuff produced or into production. Don't hate on other people. It's a waste of your energy. Plus just a hint: your fellow critics (and readers) might help you in the future. ;)

comment #10

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Leydon: When any respected dramatist -- Leo Tolstoy, Arthur Miller , Eugene O'Neil, Anton Chekhov, "Wisconsin: Osage County" author Tracy Letts -- writes a great play about family members torturing and making each other miserable, everyone applauds. But if I allude to this condition as something that is fairly common or prevalent in a Hollywood Elsewhere post, guys like Joe Leydon chime in with the fascist, finger-wagging sentiment that you have to love and hug and care for your fellow family members with your last dying breath,and do so with a warm smile on your face. Is that diplomatic enough, Joe? If it's not, tell me and I'll tone it down.

comment #11

Jamieson says ...

I've enjoyed reading Matt's writings about film and wish him all the best and hope he finds more of that ol' happiness on the next leg of his journey through life.

comment #12

Reint says ...

I agree wholeheartedly with '4th grade army'.

Jeff, you're being a monumental dick for no reason whatsoever. MZS experienced a major upset in his life two years ago (which you must have been aware of) and now has a new perpective on life and where his passions lie.

I saw MZS's picture and was hoping for a nice send-off article, praising his considerable accomplishments (he is one of the best film critics we have right now) -- but instead we get this sad one-man pissing contest.

That BS about being "called to film criticism"? Don't make me laugh, Jeff. MZS is/was a true critic. Your blog is mostly concerned with meaningless Oscar-guff (as empty as the balloons at the bottom) and box-office bullshit. Grosses, Jeff? Really?

The occasional review is mostly full of empty posturing phrases like "it's got fumes" and silly shit like "it's a real shiny, testosteroney humdinger of a thing", like you just came from a cocktail party in the 1950s. And don't even get me started on your (recent?) obsession with physical appearances.

I appreciate your candor and applaud the fact that you're not afraid to speak your mind. I just makes you look like a total douchebag.

Thanks.

comment #13

alynch says ...

The only people who don't seem to understand or accept what coarse, slovenly, low-rent vibes Kal Penn sends out with his performances as coarse, slovenly, low-rent characters are the people who write in and complain about my having called a spade a spade.

Translation: The only people who disagree with me are those who disagree with me.

comment #14

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Reint: I can tap out phrases and sentences and paragraphs all day long that make me sound thoughtful, fully-considered, richly meditative and scholastically correct. If you don't have the brass to sometimes write simple-dick phrases like "shiny, testosteroney humdinger of a thing," you're too timid to be in this game. It takes years to get to this point. First you have to learn how to write well, and then you have to unlearn certain things so can let it out freely. Is it okay if I call you a douchebag also? Are you cool with that?

comment #15

Glenn Kenny says ...

I think I can see what Jeff is working up to here: "Nice guy? I don't give a shit. Good father? Fuck you, go home and play with your kids. You know what it takes to write film criticism? It takes brass balls..."

...sigh...

I believe Mr. Seitz is gonna make out just fine in any event...

comment #16

Reint says ...

I can tap out phrases and sentences and paragraphs all day long that make me sound thoughtful, fully-considered, richly meditative and scholastically correct. If you don't have the brass to sometimes write simple-dick phrases like "shiny, testosteroney humdinger of a thing," you're too timid to be in this game. It takes years to get to this point. First you have to learn how to write well, and then you have to unlearn certain things so can let it out freely. Is it okay if I call you a douchebag also? Are you cool with that?

Yup, fine by me. I can take it.

Don't get me wrong. I hugely enjoy your 'simple-dick' phrases, otherwise I wouldn't have been reading your blog all this time. I love that you're not timid (and to be fair, you did acknowledge Seitz's status as a great critic).

But just to be clear: being non-timid does not give you licence to be gratuitously callous (especially in regards to a vastly superior critic).

comment #17

gruver1 says ...

What is it with the emotional fascists out there? One has to be all alpha and supportive and completely back-rubby when a guy abandons his profession or you're bad...is that it? Who sneered at Matt's being a good dad? I wasn't talking about his kids. I have kids...remember? I meant that family members -- brothers, dads, uncles -- can kill or jail you as easily as they can love or support you. What a nest of vipers you guys are. I'm writing plain sentences in English about apple trees and sewing machines and some of you are saying, "What...you hate Studebakers and the mechanics who work on them? You're disgusting!" What? There are times in the affairs of men when only a good snort of heroin will do.

comment #18

Glenn Kenny says ...

Lighten up Jeff, I was just busting your chops a little. Do you not recognize the "Glengarry Glen Ross" riff?

comment #19

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Kenny Now that you mention it, yeah....the Alec Baldwin riff. Which wasn't in the play.

comment #20

alynch says ...

This is fun. Let's see how many more times we can get Jeff to call us fascists.

comment #21

Legowombat says ...

When any respected dramatist... ...writes a great play about family members torturing and making each other miserable, everyone applauds.



Because critics give more weight to misery than happiness, which is viewed with suspicion - due to the myth of the tortured artist - as being something a serious artist should never experience and, especially, never address in their work.



The dysfunctional family stereotype creates conflict, therefore, drama. It requires little more of a writer than putting the characters together in a room - it's an easy road for an artist. It leads to movies like 'American Beauty', which feels incredibly false in its unrealistic portrayal of suburbia.



What about when families work together and overcome hardship or push themselves to incredible artistic heights? (Look at the four Bronte children spending their childhoods creating fictional worlds together, leading to two classics - Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights).



Why isn't this kind of dynamic recognised and given the weight it deserves? Because it's *hard* to dramatise it, and then it's dismissed as sentimental pandering to the cheap seats.



Basically, we end up with a miserablist worldview because we're told it's the only valid emotion we can have. As you get older, you grow weary of this - there's so much more out there.



I've wanted to do nothing but dream up ideas and write screenplays and whatnot, but I've never been able to put enough money back to afford to live off savings for more than a very few (and I mean very few) months.



Fit it into your downtime, until you're successful enough at it to be able to support yourself fully with it. Even 2 pages a day, is still 2 pages closer to completion - you could have a rough draft in 2 months. It's a matter of discipline and sacrificing short term pleasure for long term goals.

comment #22

Joe Leydon says ...

Fascist? Moi? Look, Jefferino, I was just trying to diplomatically ask if this attitude of yours has anything to with your not being married anymore, etc.

Geez, never mind. This is getting too skanky even for me. Sorry: Just an impulse reaction whenever anyone calls me a fascist. Besides, my family is one hell of a lot more dysfunctional than yours.

comment #23

Movie fan09 says ...

gruver1 [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I'm fine with any film critic wanting to become a filmmaker -- totally at peace with that notion, and supportive of anyone who can make a go of it. I just don't happen to feel that being "happy" is necessarily the fruit of doing something you're good at. I'm with Pvt. Robert E. Lee Prewitt's philosophy, which is that "a man should be what we can do."

why not?
isn't that why you became a film critic in the first place?
as opposed to a janitor?

"I've wanted to do nothing but dream up ideas and write screenplays and whatnot, but I've never been able to put enough money back to afford to live off savings for more than a very few (and I mean very few) months."
" I don't know what Seitz's income situation is, but more power to him if he can afford to do what he says he wants to do."

Jeff,
I remember you telling me you didn't care for writing screenplays and were (paraphrased here)made for telling people what sucks and whats great.

comment #24

JeffGP says ...

In tracing the progress of this thread, I'm glad to see Jeff's still in such good standing at the Ministry of Truth. Keep it up, maybe you'll jump a pay grade.

Love,
O'Brien

comment #25

corey3rd says ...

"Called" is a proper way to describe it since the folks at the newspaper do have to call you to say that they want to pay you to be their staff reviewer.

Far as Matt's career change - it's good to say, "There's more to life than movies." But then don't dedicate yourself to fimmaking as if somehow that's going to give you a different life. And to make short films?

And he better not take any tips from his recent buddy who supposedly went from film reviewer to filmmaker.

comment #26

TheJeff says ...

Yeah, I mean where does Zoller Seitz get off being a successful critic or pursuing a career in screenwritng? Also, why would he want to waste his time interacting with other human beings (ewwww). Anyone who's anyone knows that all the bi-coastal hipsters these days eke out a living as misanthropic bloggers. What a galumph!

comment #27

MilkMan says ...

There is more to life than looking at pornography. Which is why I'm going to stop looking at porn and go out and get myself a prostitute and get laid for real. Because when I think about all the hours, no days, weeks, years, that I have spent masturbating, I realize that I could've spent that time doing something else, like fucking.

comment #28

rickyroma says ...

I'm a regular reader of the House Next Door--loved their coverage of Deadwood and John From Cincinnati, but I wish Matt and co. would focus less on the esoteric side of film. I'd love to see more of an academic dissection of mainstream stuff.

And I wish Matt all the best. Whether he's making films or writing about them, at least he's contributing to the conversation.

comment #29

nola says ...

Abandon his profession? It's a job and there is more to life than working all the time.

signed,

A former workaholic who finally woke up after the production company I slaved for shut down two weeks before Christmas. We did not received severance packages or holiday bonuses. I'm now writing full time. Somehow I will find a way to keep a roof over my head. I recently moved overseas to Rome and think it's easy to have this attitude regarding writing here than in "your job defines you" Los Angeles.

comment #30

Unison says ...

With all due respect to MZS, I think Jeff does have a bit of a point here. The man might not find his work as a critic rewarding any longer, but to toss the entire field under a bus like he does is a pretty sour note to go out on. To suggest that anyone who watches and writes about films for a living (or even a hobby) is throwing precious hours of their life away is a fairly disrespectful sentiment, and an insult to the quality work that MZS has done over the years.

comment #31

corey3rd says ...

Matt is coming off as a complete prick. He wants us to think that movie critics don't have a life. That somehow watching 2 hours in a movie theater and spending a few hours scribbling about the flick has denied them a normal life. But then he wants to become a real filmmaker and thus force critics to sacrifice their lives in order to praise his genius.

And there is more than movies - there's TV.

comment #32

p.Vice says ...

I applaud Seitz for this move. Considering the debased quality of movie journalism in 2008, someone with his talents is wasting their time at such a pointless "profession".

And Jeff (and the rest of the assholes who feel Seitz's move is wrong), get a fucking life. Not that it matters to me if you want to waste your time watching the Sarah Marshalls and Harold & Kumars that get shat out each week and trying to justify it by writing a "review", but don't try to cheap shot a man whose priorities don't jive with your loser/geek lifestyles. In the critic world you'd be lucky if he let you wipe his ass with your tongue, much less talk down to him with this kind of bullshit.

comment #33

air nike shoes says ...

Lighten up Jeff, I was just busting your chops a little. Do you not recognize the "Glengarry Glen Ross" riff?

comment #34

free games says ...

It's kind of cool to see a critic try to put his money where his mouth is.