LAST CRITIC, THE 

(director: Matty Wishnow; cinematographer: Ben Wu; editor:
Paul Lovelace; music: Carmen Elle; cast: Robert Christgau, Carola Dibbell, Greil Marcus, Ann Powers, Joe Levy, Kit Rachlis, Amanda Petrusich, Nelson George, Chuck Eddy, Kelefa Sanneh, Thurston Moore, Randy Newman, Boots Riley, Yasi Salek, Greg Tate, Rob Sheffield, Georgia Christgau, Colson Whitehead); Runtime: 83; MPAA Rating: NR; producers:
Paul Lovelace, Ben Wu, Joe Levy; Past Prime Production; 2026)

“Pleasing conventional biopic documentary.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Matty Wishnow makes his directorial debut in this pleasing conventional biopic documentary, a homage to the Queens raised son of a fireman, Robert Christgau, one of the first serious rock critics. He started out writing for Esquire and Newsday before becoming the legendary rock critic for the Village Voice starting in the early 1970s. He did it there for the next 37 years.

The now 83-year-old influential rock critic was known for publishing his Consumer Guide and oversaw the annual Pazz & Jop critics poll. In the Guide he’s known for giving lettered grades to albums.


Christgau’s wife is the writer Carola Dibbell. The couple adopted a girl from Honduras, and have lived the past fifty years in a modest 7-room Manhattan East Village apartment.

The political leftist Christgau’s deserving of this respectful documentary as the long-standing, intellectual rock critic, who is a trusted guide in the world of rock music. After fired by the Voice in 2026 when the NY Times took over the weekly paper, he can still enlighten us on Substrack with his newsletter called And It Don’t Stop and his monthly Consumer Guide.


Christgau in his 2000 Consumer Guide book, said his favorite rock album was either The Clash (1977) or New York Dolls (1073), while his favorite record was Monk’s 1958 Misterioso. None of them choices I would make.

But no matter any differences I have with him, this country still needs his quality music reviews. Rock On!

It played at the SXSW Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 5/8/2026  GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com