With its New York literary milieu and occasional references to Voice co-founder Norman Mailer, Noah Baumbach's new film is stuffed so full of Village Voice-ness that Voice film critic J. Hoberman was compelled to attach the following disclosure to the end of his review: "If I hadn't liked The Squid and the Whale so much, I might have begged off reviewing. For, while I have only the slightest personal acquaintance with the filmmaker, I do know his brother, his father, and particularly, his mother, former Voice movie critic Georgia Brown." Despite his lineage, however, Baumbach didn't show much concern for the Voice's brand reputation: The only time the paper appears in the movie, it is being read by Jeff Daniels' Bernard Berkman character, which is the family-satire equivalent of a product endorsement by Hannibal Lecter.

Continue ReadingThe Village Voice-iest Movie Ever?

New York Magazine's lengthy feature asks: Can the "potty-mouthed new owner" make the legendary downtown paper "relevant again?" In a colorful interview, New Times' executive editor reveals his hopes "that the Voice employees would realize a union wasn’t necessary" and says that he likes "the arts coverage. But we’ve got to work on the front of the book." In response to charges of conservatism, Lacey argues that his "papers have butt-violated every goddamn politician who ever came down the pike" before concluding, "Of course, you want people who love the place, but this is a business that is based on performance. It isn’t a legacy." VVM CEO David Schneiderman and several present and former Voice staffers also offer their thoughts on changes at the paper.

Continue ReadingMichael Lacey Talks About the Village Voice