Sheehan May – Movie Critic Interviews

I’m thrilled to announce that we have our first subject for our new “Critical Juncture” feature where we interview both amateur and professional movie critics. This week’s guest is Sheehan May, the man behind INeedMovieReviews.com. A self-proclaimed “huge movie fan,” Sheehan writes movie reviews when he’s not running his media design company named Tiger Creations. His reviews are straightforward and to the point, and it’s obvious that he’s got a real passion for the cinema. So without further adieu, let’s get to know a little about Mr. Sheehan May.

Only Good Movies: What’s the first movie that you remember seeing?
Sheehan May: The Land Before Time. I must have watched it a thousand times when I was younger.

OGM: What’s the most recent movie you’ve seen?
SM: Traitor w/ Don Cheadle & Guy Pierce. Not a great movie but it had its moments.

OGM: Is there a particular film which you feel is criminally underrated?
SM: Oddly enough the movie I find underrated is one I bought on a whim. I was at Blockbuster and found the “My Life as a Dog” Criterion DVD for $6. To this day it is the first movie to ever make me cry. If at a young age you have had to say goodbye to a loved one get ready for the waterworks.

OGM: Which director do you feel has turned out the best overall body of work?
SM: Stanley Kubrick. Hardcore film buffs would most likely say Akira Kurosawa or someone along those lines but Kubrick has too many classics to not hold the title for best body of work.
2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, Paths of Glory, and Dr. Strangelove are all classics. His cinematography in 2001 alone has yet to be matched by any modern director.

OGM: From an artistic standpoint, which film do you think is most important?
SM: 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is a movie with no defined narrative and it is lengthy. The whole purpose of it is to challenge the viewer rather than entertain. Making this movie was a bold move by Kubrick but it paid off 2001 is one of the greatest artistic achievements in film.

OGM: All artsy considerations aside, which movie is your personal favorite?
SM: Casino. I could watch this movie once a month and it would never get old to me. Sharon Stone absolutely owns every scene she is in. It is shame she never got any accolades for her role in Casino.

OGM: In your opinion, which film is entirely overrated?
SM: The Graduate.

OGM: Have you ever walked out of the theatre during a film? If so, what movie was playing?
SM: The only movie I ever walked out of was the re-make of the Manchurian Candidate. I was with a friend and neither of us wanted to stay to finish it.

OGM: In your mind, what’s the ultimate goal of a movie critic?
SM: The ultimate goal of a movie critic should be to give a balanced view of a movie so viewers have clear summary of its good qualities before they waste 90 minutes (or more) of their life on it.

OGM: Time to look into the future. Do you predict any major changes for the movie industry over the next 25 years?
SM: I hope 3-D becomes a tool filmmakers use more often. After seeing how it was used in “UP” I will now go see pretty much any movie that is in 3-D.

OGM: Here’s another chance to predict the future. Name a relatively unknown actor or actress who’ll be a huge star within five years.
SM: To be honest there is no actor/actress I am really following at the moment.

OGM: Besides yourself, who’s your favorite movie critic to read?
SM: My love for movies stemmed from watching Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel battle with each other on their TV show. I always liked Roger Ebert’s responses more though because he did not review movies for just the snobs he reviewed them appropriately for the audience they were targeted for.

Thanks again to Sheehan May of INeedMovieReviews for participating in this edition of Critical Juncture. Be sure to check back next week, as we’ll bring you another high-quality movie critic interview.

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