I (like many) was introduced to Ignatiy Vishnevetsky when Roger Ebert hired the poignant film critic to co-host Ebert Presents, a public television show dedicated to discussing films in an intelligent and entertaining manner. The show was short-lived, never reaching and procuring the viewership it deserved. However, the writing of Vishnevetsky (and his co-host, Christy Lemire) has stuck around.
The way Ignatiy joyously and critically spoke about film on the program immediately forced me to seek out his writing. Sure enough, Roger was absolutely right in choosing the budding critic. Vishnevetsky is an observant and fresh voice in a sea of middling criticism, and he continues to produce quality work at the Chicago-based publication, The A.V. Club.
Despite recently becoming a father, constantly opining about movies, and filming a short film (it’s in pre-production at the moment), Vishnevetsky managed to find some time to answer a few of my questions.
Why do you feel film criticism is still important in the modern age?
Movies are important because they’re capable of doing and expressing so much; writing about them is important because it forces you to engage with the things that movies engage with—which is just about everything. Writing about movies means writing about entertainment, art, fiction, politics, sexuality, etc.
What keeps you going as a writer?
I’m not a natural writer; I tend to write uphill. I like the challenge of it, though. Writing about movies is especially challenging, because you’re using one medium to engage with another, very different medium. That there is the fun of writing: trying to describe something that exists outside of the written word.
Do you have any memories of Roger and working on the set of Ebert Presents?
I didn’t know Roger at all until we started working on Ebert Presents, so my memories of him are mostly work-related. He had an intense work ethic, and was able to write a fully-formed review in one sitting. I’m much more cautious; I revise a lot. Maybe that kind of confidence comes with age. (read this for more on Roger)
Lastly, a list of films you hold close to your heart.
L’Argent
Artists and Models
Blow Out
Breaking News
The Cotton Club
Dead or Alive 2: Birds
Erreur tragique
Floating Clouds
Gremlins 2
Hatari!
House of Bamboo
Ivan the Terrible
Johnny Guitar
Lonesome
The Man I Killed
Modern Romance
The Moderns
Monsieur Verdoux
Mouchette
Sisters of the Gion
Some Came Running
Street of Shame
There Was a Father
True Heart Susie
Two English Girls
Universal Soldier: Regeneration
We Own the Night
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky is a freelance film critic and emerging filmmaker based in Chicago, IL. You may follow him on Twitter here.
3 thoughts on “Film Critic of the Week: Ignatiy Vishnevetsky”
Great article. Found my way here from The Dissolve & immediately subscribed when I saw you were doing a “Film Critic of the Week” feature. I’ve always liked Vishnevetsky (and Lemire, too) and I wish he was out there just a little bit more, fronting some big publications.
That would be nice. He’s certainly deserving of more work.
It sucked to see Vishnevetsky and Lemire not get the chance to keep going with the show. It felt revitalized with their additions.