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March 02, 2006
Profound Post Critic Takes the Short Way 'Home'
After prolonged consideration, I passed on writing up a piece about critic Matt Zoller Seitz's directing debut Home (opening today at the Pioneer Theater). There are a couple of reasons for this, not the least of which is that I have not seen it. The second reason is that I knew the Post's Vincent Musetto would be on it, and previous experience indicates that his precision and insight puts my own rambling hackwork to shame.
And after reading Musetto's review this morning, I feel confident I made the right call:
A lot of film critics (but not this one) dream of turning director. If Truffaut and Godard could pull it off, they fantasize, why not me?
Perhaps these wannabe auteurs should consider the case of Matt Zoller Seitz, a critic for the New York Press (where he reviews movies) and the Star-Ledger of Newark (where he covers TV): His directorial debut, Home, is a disappointment.
It concerns an all-night party in a townhouse in a yuppie-fied section of Brooklyn (safe but boring). Most revelers are white, hetero yuppies, with token gays, African-Americans and Asians thrown in to keep things politically correct.
There's nothing especially new or interesting about the guests, the party or the movie. One bright note is Nicol Zanzarella as the elegant Susan, a freelance TV editor and co-host.
And... scene. Hats off to Musetto, whose 131-word distillation confirms that while Truffaut's cinematic legacy may indeed be safe, his critical legacy had better watch its ass. Who says you have to cross over to shake the foundations?
Incidentally, Times critic Jeannette Catsoulis's exhaustive 203-word review is now available to help fill in any qualitative blanks. Because, you know, a lot of bloggers (but not this one) dream of turning responsible. Or thorough. Or something.
Posted by stvanairsdale at March 2, 2006 09:33 AM
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