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Ebert is (on his way) back
Roger Ebert has chimed in from rehab, having been laid low since July when a bout with salivary cancer proved to be tougher than he thought. He’s posted his first review since his cancer flared up, and he hopes to be back on the movie beat sometime early next year.
It’s great to have him back, even on a limited basis. It’s been sad, and more than a little strange, to have him be gone for so long. He has always been the critic I’ve trusted the most, and I love how he makes his reviews so personable, something I try to reflect in my own writing.
Since he’s been away, I’ve discovered something rather startling. There’s no clear number two critic for me. There are others that I check regularly. James Berardinelli is certainly the leading web-based critic, and I like Owen Gleiberman at Entertainment Weekly, among others, but I don’t feel as attached to them as I do to Ebert.
Maybe that’s because my first major exposure to film critics was watching Siskel and Ebert on PBS. You could say he’s the reason you’re reading this right now, in more ways than one.
Here’s one of my favorite pieces of Ebert’s writing, from his review of “Exit to Eden”:
“On the first page of my notes, I wrote ‘Starts slow.’ On the second page, I wrote ‘Boring.’ On the third page, I wrote ‘Endless!’ On the fourth page, I wrote: ‘Bite-size Shredded Wheat, skim milk, cantaloupe, frozen peas, toilet paper, salad stuff, pick up laundry.’”
Here’s to thanking Roger for updating us, and to wishing him a speedier recovery. Share some of your thoughts on Roger, and tell me what other critics you like to read.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Other critics
Comments
By SRCputt
October 25, 2006 4:24 PM | Link to this
My favorite Ebert line was about Brando in Christopher Columbus: The Discovery: “He’s phoned in performances before. This is the first time I wanted to hang up.”By Allie D.
October 12, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
I feel exactly the same way you do about Ebert. He was the first critic I look to and always has been. I’ve missed his reviews terribly, and I was heartened to read that he was making a slow comeback. If he hopes to cover the Oscars, then we will be seeing him sooner than later! As far as critics I trust other than Ebert, that list is very very short, my friend. The only reviews I anticipate regularly other than his are yours. :)