Mike Smith
Any time you undertake something you love you can usually cite a few people that influenced you in your endeavor. There are three people I often name as being my “hands on” mentors: Steve Otto, one time film critic of the Tampa Times Stephen Hunter, now a successful author and one time film critic of the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post and Robert Butler, one time film critic of the Kansas City Star (in reading this over I can’t help but be saddened that all of these men no longer work for their respective newspapers, victims of 21st Century technology). If I had to name a fourth it would be Roger Ebert, long time film critic for the Chicago Sun Times who, with his cross-town rival Gene Siskel, brought the movies into our homes each week courtesy of their various television programs. Sadly, Mr. Ebert passed away this morning, a day after announcing he would be curtailing his work schedule because of a recurrence of the cancer he bravely battled for over a decade. He was 70.
Illinois born and bred, Ebert began his journalistic career as a features reporter for the Sun Times in 1966. After the paper’s film critic, Eleanor Keane, left the paper Ebert was given the position, one he filled proudly for almost five decades. In 1975 he became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for criticism (I’m proud to add that my friend Stephen Hunter became the second). That same year he and Siskel teamed up for a local television program entitled “Sneak Previews.” The show was a hit and in 1978 became syndicated via PBS. As a film nerd I watched the show religiously, as well as it’s later incarnations: “At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert” and “Siskel & Ebert & the Movies.” Week after week millions of film fans would watch the show to see which films were given a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down.” In fact, Ebert and Siskel’s widow, Marlene, own the trademarked phrase “Two Thumbs Up.”
I never got to meet Roger Ebert in person but we shared a little bit of film history. In 1982, while reviewing the film “Six Weeks,” which starred Dudley Moore and Mary Tyler Moore, Ebert remarked how he wished he could burn the negative. I sent him the film’s 35 mm trailer, advising him that if he burned it that would be a good start. Many years later, after I contacted him via email about a project I was working on, I reminded him of my gift. He told me he had gotten it but never got around to burning it! I pray that they don’t show “Six Weeks” in Heaven.
Here’s some of the tweets regarding Ebert’s passing floating around the “twittersphere” today :
I Miss My Dear Friend Roger Ebert.Roger Was One Of The 1st Major Movie Critics To Support My Joints,Especially Malcolm X And DTRT.-R.I.P.- @SpikeLee
In his review of “Back to the Future” in 1985, Roger Ebert said we’d made a film with “charm, brains and a lot of laughter”. Sir, god made a man with those same ingredients – you. Thank you for shepherding the world of film criticism! We will miss you Roger Ebert! X – @TheClaudiaWells
RIP Roger Ebert.–a critic of a different tine -who wrote intelligently and passionately about film – not fame – @JohnCusack
Roger Ebert gave my first film, Last House on the Left, its only positive review. Everyone else reviled it, but he saw merit in it.- @WesCraven
Goodbye Roger Ebert, we had fun. The balcony is closed. – @SteveMartinToGo
R.I.P. Roger Ebert. It was a privilege to interact with you. Thank you for the support, the criticism, and the true love for the movies. – @DiabloCody
Reading Roger Ebert’s reviews as a kid was instrumental in determining what I did w my life. He will be sorely missed.- @JustinLong
If cancer came to take me piece by piece, I hope I could summon even a fraction of the grace Roger Ebert showed us, in such abundance – @MiaFarrow
RIP Roger Ebert. We’ve lost a passionate and broad minded force for cinema of all shapes sizes and genres. A fine courageous writer and man – @RealRonHoward
And here are some reviews – from the archives – of Mr Ebert’s :
Back to the Future Part II
The Evil Dead
Return of the Jedi
Jaws The Revenge
Poltergeist III
Batman & Robin
Beverly Hills Cop 3
