The 50 Year Argument

Intellectuals for themselves. Martin Scorsese has written another love letter (with the assistance of editor David Tedeschi). This time the addressee is not Elia Kazan or any other American or Italian director, but the editorial board of the The New York Review of Books. It is not an attempt to uncover the political-economic context in which the magazine was and is published, but rather to express admiration for one particular periodical and for serious critical writing as such. Instead of a linear overview of events, following the initial summary of the origins of the NYRB, the documentary’s creators jump from one sensational article to the next within the framework of vaguely defined thematic blocks. Where possible, opposing perspectives on contemporary events are presented not only through the authors’ readings and commentary, but also through images. Thanks to archival materials from various street riots, the film is thus made up of more than just talking heads, though they are still given the most space. Neither formalistically nor in terms of content, the film is not comparably as confrontational as the lively discussions that some of the texts provoked. Instead of stirring up controversy, The 50 Year Argument only recapitulates what happened from one (liberal) perspective. For NYRB readers, this will be 97 minutes spent in the pleasant company of their favourite writers. Viewers who are unfamiliar with New York’s intellectual scene will nod in agreement a few times and appreciate the fact that someone has made a documentary about intelligent people who write unpopular opinions for a living, but they are unlikely to become NYRB subscribers. The 50 Year Argument is an elitist affair comparable to Public Speaking, Scorsese’s portrait of Fran Lebowitz, which also doesn’t make much of an effort to accommodate people riding a different wave of thought. 65% (08.11.2015)