It was more than a little depressing to learn that the Village Voice recently let go of its longtime film critic, J. Hoberman (the "J" stands for James). I knew Jim slightly back in the late '70s when we were both MFA candidates in the Columbia film program, and I remember him as an exceptionally bright guy. He had just recently snagged a post at the Voice, writing mainly about avant-garde/experimental cinema from a progressive political perspective. His duties became a bit more mainstream some years later when he graduated to lead critic, but he never abandoned his devotion to more esoteric fare.
Since leaving New York over two decades ago, I haven't read the Voice regularly, but I'd occasionally check out Jim's reviews on the paper's website. I didn't always agree with him, of course, but even when he trashed a movie I liked or praised one I didn't, I remained impressed by the acuity of his insights. It's a damn shame he doesn't have a regular gig at the moment, and I hope that another publication, whether print or digital, has the good sense to add him to its masthead—and soon.
The Voice, so I've heard, is but a shadow of its former self, a "glorified shopper" in the words of another Columbia classmate, George Robinson. Maybe it's just as well that Hoberman is no longer at the Voice. It sounds like the once proud (but now sadly in decline) alternative weekly doesn't deserve him.
NY Times critics A. O. Scott and Manohla Dargis "sat down" (via email) with Hoberman for an interesting conversation a couple of weeks ago. You can check it out here.
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