America’s original rich-and-famous film critic turns 65 today. Let’s wish him the best. I unironically consider Ebert a hero — and not just because he took a gutsy stand to go public a couple of months back and show how hard-hit he’s been by his debilitating and ongoing bout with cancer of the salivary gland. I love the guy because he loves movies. And because he was passionate enough in his cinephilia to get me passionate back when I was an impressionable little dork scheduling my weekends around quadruple features at the multiplex and airings of Siskel & Ebert.
If you only know Ebert from his “thumbs up” thing on TV, then Amazon yourself a copy of his recent best-of collection Awake in the Dark, because he’s a master. (Won the Pulitzer for criticism in 1975, even.) In recent years, pre-surgery, I thought he’d maybe gone a little soft; I remember being ticked exactly two years ago that just about the only movies the big fuzzy lug panned that summer were my three favorites of the season — Wedding Crashers, War of the Worlds, and The Aristocrats. (Lately, even though it sounds like he’s still feeling low, he’s been posting reviews on rogerebert.com, and he seems a bit tougher, with smackdowns of Ocean’s Thirteen and Shrek the Third.) But always, there’s an enthusiasm in his writing that I think is near-unmatched. People who don’t screw around when it comes to movie reviews would probably wanna call Pauline Kael the greatest critic ever, and maybe she is. But there’s something in the way that Ebert comes at movies so openly, engaging with a wider public and never soundingjaded, that inclines me to give the title to him. What’s your call? Thumbs up or thumbs down for Mr. Roger Ebert?
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Two very enthusiastic thumbs up for Roger Ebert. He is to journalistic criticism what Stanley Kubrick was to directing. In his younger days he might have missed the mark on a few cinematic masterpieces (He hates The Usual Suspects! And, at first, Reservoir Dogs!), but lately he’s written the most intelligent articles and synopses to rely on (No offense Gleiberman and Schwarzbaum… but you did give bad grades to Forrest Gump,.. The Matrix,… Fight Club,… O Brother, Where Art Thou?… just to name a few.). In his declining health, the last review of his I’ve read was for Black Snake Moan,… which I may just have to rent tonight.
Thumbs up or thumbs down? I don’t like to be that black or white about him — even if he is about his movies — because, even though I often very much disagree with his opinions, I always enjoy reading his writing.
I never cry, but I’ll bawl (sp?) if this guy doesn’t win the fight.
Yeah, kudos to Ebert. I agree with most of his reviews, except a few that had me scratching my head in disbelief. But on the whole, he’s my top pick for film critic.
I work with celebrities everyday and have met George Clooney, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, etc. Not once have I ever been star struck. The day I met Roger Ebert, I was speechless. My friend forced me to say hi and that’s when I went into this crazy speech about how he helped me to love film and how I remembered his passionate reviews on “Sneak Previews” for My Dinner with Andre and Shoot the Moonand how he made me want to be a writer. He paused for a moment, thought about it and said, “Yeah, Shoot the Moon was a great movie.” I loved him for pretending that I wasn’t being a geek. God bless you Mr. Ebert!
I grew up reading Roger Ebert. His greatest attribute is his consistency. When I don’t agree with his reviews, I at least know why he doesn’t like a film, and those reasons may be why I will like it. But at least I know what he’s looking at, and how it relates to what he’s seen before, and I can make my judgements accordingly. Plus, he’s able to write his reasoning for his criticism far better than I’ve been able to express this. He’s the best.
There have always been times when I disgreed with a review that Roger Ebert wrote (I think he was the only critic, maybe person, in the world to give a good review to “Cop and 1/2″) but he is one of the most inteligent writers about going to the movies that has ever lived. He understands more about why we love movies that someone like Pauline Kael ever did, though I love her, too. And the man made me watch “My Dinner with Andre” solely based on his recommendation. Love him.
I don’t think I knew before today that Roger was born on the exact same year and day as Sir Paul.
One of Ebert’s reviews that stuck with me was that of “Rambo.” While you’d expect serious critics to look down their nose at such fare, Ebert gave it a thumbs up and said that the movie did a great job of being what it was trying to be. That struck me as a good starting point when critiquing anything. I’m willing to vote him a thumbs up.
I had the pleasure of stumbling upon Mr. Ebert speaking at a bookstore in San Diego a couple years ago. As he spoke to the growing crowd and signed copies of his book, he could not have been more gracious, engaging, or down-to-earth. He managed to share his incredible cinematic knowledge without giving off that pretencious, know-it-all condescension that some of his peers sometimes succomb to. He charmed the crowd — and this fan. The man does not disappoint!
Roger, please get well
We miss your wit and insight
Roeper is a tool
Two thumbs way up! Anyone who can write a line like “This is my happening, and it freaks me out!” is all right.
It’s really weird…when Siskel was alive, I almost never agreed with Ebert. Since the former’s death, though, Ebert has been a lot more on my wavelength. Maybe more accepting of the “popular” movies. Thanks for the link to the update on his health…I’ve been wondering. Hopefully he gets back to something approaching normal.
Roger Ebert is at least half the reason I love movies. I read his all his reviews, even for movies I had no interest in, just because his writing is so engaging and the enthusiasm for movies clearly shines through. Since his illness the reviews don’t come as often as I’d like, but anything from him is great.
If anyone wants to read two of the best books on film I’ve ever read, read his “Roger Ebert’s Book of Film” which he edited, and especially the more recent “Awake In the Dark”- which is the BEST film criticism book you could find.
One of my favorite quotes is from Roger Ebert:
“All good art is about something deeper than it admits.”
So true. That recent picture of him is so painful to look at, but I love his bravery and admire the man more than any justice my words could attempt for.
Two thumbs up for his writing, and five stars for the battle he is doing with Cancer.
Wow.. what a cool guy. I’ve never thought of myself as someone who would want to fight cancer if it made me look “unpretty,” so to speak–but Roger doesn’t seem like he’s quite done yet. It’s shocking to see how much he’s changed–I was taken aback by the picture of him on the site, and then truly stunned at the pic oh his own site (which I thought was someone else at first). But the writing is the same, and that’s really who Roger is, and what makes him a vital part of the experience of going to the movies. You still make me laugh my ass off, Roger–hang in there.
Roger Ebert has been a powerful presence in my moviegoing life. When his 4star review for Pleasantville, which he stated was in his top 5 of the best of the year, I found a critic that I could connect with. We might not always agree, but I respect him more than any other critic because he has the writing (Pulitzer, anyone) and passion to back up any and every statement. He’s also not afraid to really love the different and unique movies that are under the radar instead of just forced fed Hollywood junk-sometimes he likes those too. His extraordinary strength to get through the cancer is inspiring and I wish him a great recovery. Hopefully one day I’ll meet not the actor or the director, but the critic who has forever changed the way I think about movies.
two thumbs way up for roger ebert! hope he gets better soon so he can write some more great reviews. my personal favorite was his review for 28 Days Later…”My imagination is just diabolical enough that when that jet fighter appears toward the end, I wish it had appeared, circled back–and opened fire.”
That is the most hilarious thing I have ever read.
Wow . . . that photo you linked to is shocking. It’s terrible he’s had to go through that. I haven’t always agreed with his reviews but always though he seemed like a good guy. I hope he recovers.
Roger Ebert is a great guy – I wrote to him as a kid about my love of movies, and I received a very long, personal letter back. It meant the world to me. His books are wonderful – sarcastic, sentimental, but most of all, true. He loves films and the motion picture industry, and I’m glad that Roger is a part of this genre. Get well soon, Roger, and Happy Birthday!
Mr. Ebert. I wish you the speediest of recoveries, sir. I hope that you have the happiest of birthdays and look forward to wishing you one again next year (and throughout the years to come).
My favorite Ebert review of all time is for Jaws The Revenge. Ebert is always at his best when he complete pans a movie. And that one obviously deserved it. Get better soon Roger!!!
Read his Great Movies section on his website. He watches movies on a whole different level than even his peers. Sometimes I wish I could see what he sees when he watches a movie. Get well soon, Ebert.
Not to speak badly of someone when they’re ill, but two BIG Thumbs Down for Ebert. His criticism has always been pedestrian at best and his tendency to love practically everything in recent years is especially irksome. He and Siskel were responsible for the beginning of the decline and fall of film criticism. Their ’sound bite’ style made it too possible for criticism to become ‘consumer reporting’ and not real critiquing. Give me Kael, Charles Taylor, David Edelstein, etc. any day over Ebert. None of these critics are ‘jaded’ they did/do love movies and are always a pleasure to read because they really made/make you think. But, that said, may he recover his health and develop some critical bite.
Two thumbs up for furry_tom’s haiku!!!
And I most certainly give Mr. Ebert two thumbs way up as well. He is the one critic that I really trust when it comes to reviews. I feel like he never really lets his personal feelings get into it when reviewing movies (unlike his associate Mr. Roeper who just uses pop culture references to piece together a review). He’s so fair and balanced, much more level-headed than I am when I dislike a movie. Even when I disagree with his opinion (which isn’t very often), I can appreciate his view on it and I take it into consideration. I’ve always admired him for the respect he has for Hayao Miyazaki while other critics would just dismiss his movies as “cartoons”.
All the best wishes to him on his birthday and many more years of his reviews!
I’ve always enjoyed Ebert’s reviews. I don’t always agree with them, but they’re always a fun read.
ebert is awesome! ive always have loved his review of the movie North… where he writes the word Hated about 10 times in single sentence… you should check it out. Roeper is a fool… he didnt like Lord of the Rings:Fellowship because “there were too many characters”… but of course when everyone was sucking off the 2nd and 3rd, guess who came onto the bandwagon– none other than richard roeper… what a jerk…
I wish Roger the best! I’m also one of the many cinephiles that grew up with him on tv and gained a love of film due in part to Roger and Gene. I just wish the show was in better hands – Richard Roeper’s a dope (his criticism of Marie Antoinette: the use of modern music was done already in Moulin Rouge!)
My favorite Ebert line is from his review of Armageddon: ““Armageddon” reportedly used the services of nine writers. Why did it need any? The dialogue is either shouted one-liners or romantic drivel. “It’s gonna blow!” is used so many times, I wonder if every single writer used it once, and then sat back from his word processor with a contented smile on his face, another day’s work done.”
I really miss his Movie Answer Man. He ran a good line between being very informative and totally tongue in cheek. Plus, I wrote him a question right before he got sick and now have no idea who to ask. He’s a paragon.