Remembering John Simon

Film and theater critic John Simon happens to share a centennial with William F. Buckley Jr., whose legacy has been honored in these pages all year. But Simon, who once served as National Review’s film critic, made his own contributions that are worthy of reflection.

Today, it is understandable why we would miss the erudition and judgment that Simon brought to bear in his reviews of Hollywood’s often wildly overrated cinematic output. Hollywood’s current existential crises are well known. “Tilly Norwood,” an AI-generated simulacrum of a young woman, lands deals for dozens of film roles, with more AI “actors” on the way. The use of CGI for most visuals in superhero movies is routine. One of the most beloved cinematic classics of all time, The Wizard of Oz, has just undergone AI “enhancement.”

About the Author

Michael Washburn

Michael Washburn is a New York-based novelist and short story writer. His most recent book is Infinite Desert.

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Film and theater critic John Simon happens to share a centennial with William F. Buckley Jr., whose legacy has been honored in these pages all year. But Simon, who once served as National Review’s film critic, made his own contributions that are worthy of reflection.

Today, it is understandable why we would miss the erudition and judgment that Simon brought to bear in his reviews of Hollywood’s often wildly overrated cinematic output. Hollywood’s current existential crises are well known. “Tilly Norwood,” an AI-generated simulacrum of a young woman, lands deals for dozens of film roles, with more AI “actors” on the way. The use of CGI for most visuals in superhero movies is routine. One of the most beloved cinematic classics of all time, The Wizard of Oz, has just undergone AI “enhancement.”