Meet a Critic: Pete Hammond
The household name talks splitting from Maxim, reviewing films, and invoking the ire of others.
If you've ever read a movie advertisement, you've likely seen his name. Pete Hammond, Maxim magazine's lone film reviewer, is a ubiquitous force in entertainment media. See what makes the critic certain other critics love to hate tick in the latest edition of Meet a Critic.
Pete Hammond is a veteran in the movie journalism community; having worked in television, print, and online, he's got 15 solid years of film reviewing under his belt. When he signed on as Maxim magazine's primo pundit three years ago, Hammond became a household name -- quite a feat for any film critic, in this post-Pauline Kael day and age -- thanks largely to his oft-scrutinized tendency to be quoted on movie ads and commercials.
But Hammond is quick to defend his reputation from the acute scorn of Hollywood Bitchslap and other detractors; according to him, he's not a quote whore, just a lover of movies. And whether you choose to agree or agree to disagree with his rationale, Hammond is an open book about the public end of his tenure at Maxim (see below for more on the split, in his own words).
What did Hammond do before he became inextricably linked with Maxim magazine? What does it take for him to like (or dislike) a movie? And who, if not he himself, should be held responsible for recommending bad movies to the American public?
There's a lot to digest in this week's Meet a Critic, so dive right in and get to know Pete Hammond.
Name: Pete Hammond
Age: Old enough to get into R-Rated movies without a parent or guardian.
Hometown: Santa Monica, Calif.
Years reviewing film: 15ish
Why and how did you become a critic?
Pete Hammond: I have an eclectic career but always related to film in one way or another. Since I was 6 years old I have been obsessed, OBSESSED with movies and have worked in various jobs related to bringing movies to the attention of the public including as a producer on shows like Entertainment Tonight, Arsenio, Extra, Access Hollywood and the AMC movie network. While at ET I started working with my pal Leonard Maltin reviewing movies for his annual Movie Guide where I am still a Contributing Editor. About three years ago circumstance made me become Maxim's first (and only) full time national critic.
Fill in the blank: "If I wasn't a professional film critic, I'd be:
PH: A guy who didn't have to sit through Fantastic Four sequels.
What is your favorite film?
PH: Too many. Always loved Stanley Donen's Two For The Road though. Favorite film this year is Diving Bell And The Butterfly and Ratatouille.
Who is your favorite director?
PH: Francois Truffaut, Billy Wilder.
What's the worst movie you've ever seen?
PH: Too many to name. I always hope for the best though. Maybe The Assasination Of Trotsky with Richard Burton. Excruciating. Worst this year was that Lindsay Lohan horror thing they didn't show to critics (I go see everything eventually anyway).
Who do you think is a shoo-in come Oscar night?
PH: Ratatouille for animation. Lead pipe cinch.
Which was the most interesting film of 2007?
PH: Again, Diving Bell And The Butterfly -- a remarkable story, a remarkable film.
How did you originally end up at Maxim, and can you talk about what really happened when you left recently?
PH: They were looking for a critic and a friend who works with them mentioned me. After about eight months we finally came together when I told them I could get around the magazine's three month lead time by posting most of my reviews day and date in the magazine's online edition.
Unfortunately the magazine was sold in 2007 and a new group took over. The new editor has decided to deep-six reviews in favor of other types of film coverage. When this editor became editor of Playboy in 2002 he did the same thing to Leonard Maltin's reviews there. Guess he just doesn't like us critics. I had a freelance writer agreement so basically the gig just ended. It was all good. I thank them for the opportunity and will look for others in addition to my current stuff including my awards season work for the Los Angeles Times/The Envelope.com.
Are you aware of websites that document and analyze your quotes? How do you respond to such scrutiny?
PH: I am aware, but I don't respond. It's low rent stuff. Someone once sent me this thing called "Hollywood Bitchslap" or something and said they were hatin' on me. I thought with that name it sounded like a gay website devoted to Joan Crawford so I was a bit surprised. I later found out it was some pseudo local radio reviewer in Chicago who is obsessed with people who get quoted a lot (obviously HE doesn't so guess that makes him mad). [Editor's note: film critic Erik Childress runs Hollywood Bitchslap.] He doesn't appear to care for most critics -- or even movies -- for that matter. Anyway it was this endless diatribe against me written in tiny type. The guy needs an editor, that's for sure. He's not from the 'Windy City' for nothing. Anyway there are others too. I once googled myself and discovered a few but if I read them I will just get upset. You see, I always thought I was a nice guy and I am dependent on "the kindness of strangers." If you know the dude in Chicago tell him to lay off and get a life before he wastes his own being so angry.
Bardego on 01-22-2008 05:43 PM
Speaking of critics, if any of you guys have Lou Lumenick on you "Favorite Critics" que, you might want to consider taking him off. He wrote a very snide and insensitive post today about Heath Ledger's death basically saying that he deserved it and had it coming.
It was so nasty and mean-spirited that I've decided never to read anything from him again.