MetaFilter posts tagged with ebert

Books Do Furnish a Life

ocherdraco — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:54:42 -0800

Thumbs Up, not Bottoms Up

kmz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:05:12 -0800

My Name is Roger, and I'm an alcoholic. Roger Ebert talks about AA.

Michelangelo Antonioni's "Zabriskie Point"

Joe Beese — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:37:08 -0800

Pauline Kael called it "a huge, jerry-built, crumbling ruin of a movie". Roger Ebert called it "such a silly and stupid movie... our immediate reaction is pity". Few directors of Michelangelo Antonioni's stature have followed a film as acclaimed as Blowup (1966) with one as reviled as Zabriskie Point (1970). While what merit the film has is found chiefly, if not solely, in Antonioni's characteristically striking visuals - particularly its concluding explosion sequence set to Pink Floyd's "Come in Number 51, Your Time is Up" (previously) - the movie has been YouTubed in its entirety here. (related)

I can still recall...

Joe Beese — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:18:44 -0800

Roger Ebert called it "one of the finest, truest, most deeply felt movies in my experience". Rated X on initial release, it still has not appeared on DVD. Based on a novel by Evan Hunter - author of The Blackboard Jungle and the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, though better known for his 87th Precinct police procedurals published under the name Ed McBain - Last Summer (1969) was directed by Frank Perry, fresh off an acclaimed adaptation of John Cheever's "The Swimmer". It starred Richard Thomas, Bruce Davison, and Barbara Hershey - whom her future Hannah and Her Sisters director Woody Allen "fell in love with" after seeing her in this role. Feeling guilt over the death of a seagull during filming, she went by the name "Barbara Seagull" for several years. It also starred newcomer Catherine Burns - who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Roger's little rule book

Knappster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:27:45 -0800

It is acceptable, but rarely, to join in a general audience uproar, as at the first Cannes press screening of "The Brown Bunny." Even then, no cupping your hand under your armpit and producing fart noises. Roger Ebert's little rule book.

The Balcony Is Closed. (For Good.)

WCityMike — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:55:47 -0800

Roger Ebert reflects on "Siskel & Ebert", its origins, and his departed friend and enemy, on the occasion of his show's ending (after many permutations and forms). And they're taking the thumbs with them.

It may not be art, but I know what I like.

Navelgazer — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:03:51 -0800

It's been almost a year since Roger Ebert responded to Clive Barker on the debate over whether games can truly be "art." In support of Mr. Barker's position, here are some of the most artistic moments from games in recent years - the tragic, the trippy, the Saturday mornings, the darkly comic, the downs and the ups, and the rare phyrric victory. For the record, I revere Roger Ebert as a film reviewer, but just disagree with him on this count. I apologize in advance for not including Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Deus Ex, Bioshock, or any number of other great games which I simply haven't played enough to know the parts to exhibit.

Scenes from a Posthumous Potshot

jonp72 — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:05:00 -0800

In Scenes from an Overrated Career, film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum writes a rare New York Times op-ed arguing that the work of recently deceased director Ingmar Bergman is overvalued compared to Carl Theodor Dreyer and Robert Bresson. Both Roger Ebert and David Bordwell respond to Rosenbaum's takedown of Bergman, while Rosenbaum writes a brief eulogy blog post on Bergman. Meanwhile, another blogger discusses how Antonioni and Bergman hated each other despite recent obits that have paired them together.

Siskel & Ebert & Roeper & You

McLir — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:59:46 -0800

On At The Movies this past weekend Richard Roeper announced: 1) The past 20 years of At The Movies (formerly Siskel & Ebert & the Movies) is going to be archived for free download online. That's several thousand reviews -- from Adventures in Babysitting to Zodiac. Unfortunately, the first ten years of of the show was poorly preserved. Ebert writes, "Starting Thursday, Aug. 2, visitors will be able to search for and watch all of those past debates, including the film clips that went along with them, plus the “ten best” and other special shows we did. The new archive will be at www.atthemoviestv.com, and will be the web’s largest collection of streaming reviews." 2) Roger Ebert will be a guest for an online chat Thursday at 8:00 Eastern (7:00 Central). You can submit questions in advance here. The chat will be at this link. (Until the actual archive shows up online, you can enjoy these links.)

Showing for one weekend only!

McLir — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:00:44 -0800

If you watched a lot of television in the 70's, you'll recognize this ad. An authoritative baritone informs us of a startling new motion picture about psychic phenomena, the Bermuda Triangle, near death experiences (with fittingly, a sequel), Bigfoot, the Shroud of Turin, the Lincoln Assassination, or Noah's Ark. "Showing for one weekend only!" (More beyond the door...)

Ebert on Siegel - A brave man and a hell of a nice guy

Guy Smiley — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 22:35:29 -0800

Roger Ebert remembers Joel Siegel (1943-2007) - "A Brave Man and a Hell of a Nice Guy."

AFI Top 100

ztdavis — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:30:59 -0800

The American Film Institute decided the need for ~~more money~~ an update to their 1998 list of the 100 Greatest Movies was so pressing that they made a new list. Ebert (and friends) ask where's Fargo?. The IHT wonders why the past decade has only spawned four new, worthy movies. And, generally, no one seems super excited about it. (some links go to wikipedia to avoid registration on AFI's site).

Well played, Rob Schneider.

spec80 — Fri, 11 May 2007 09:20:26 -0800

Previously, Roger Ebert had the last word with Rob Schneider. A few days ago, Rob Schneider proves that despite his undiscriminating film choices, bad films do not make a bad person and he is one classy guy.

"I ain't a pretty boy no more"

kirkaracha — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:30:06 -0800

"I ain’t a pretty boy no more" Roger Ebert is determined to attend his Overlooked Film Festival tomorrow.

We spend too much time hiding illness. There is an assumption that I must always look the same. I hope to look better than I look now. But I'm not going to miss my festival.

[via]

"40 Years is not enough:" Update on Roger Ebert

mojohand — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:51:10 -0800

Roger Ebert reports on his condition One link post to rogerebert.com article by the man himself on how he's doing.

A weekend that will have them second-guessing

hifiparasol — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:22:19 -0800

"Heavy set, older, red heads and even black chicks can have me if they can pay the bill. No real female will be refused." The director of a film Roger Ebert initially claimed was less entertaining than a colonoscopy (though he recanted after it was recut) is offering the perfect Christmas gift.

10 Thumbs Way Up

surferboy — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:43:31 -0800

Roger Ebert's Best 10 Movies of 2005

Just Not Friends, Perhaps

thanotopsis — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 07:50:11 -0800

We love you best when you're snarky, Roger. Perhaps the best reviews from the venerable Roger Ebert are when he gives 1 or fewer stars to a movie (a good example being his review of Just Friends, which comes out this weekend). He has more to say about the industry, the process of film making, and the way people think when they pay to see these things. Now, we've discussed Ebert before, but it's worth a read of his reviews by searching for movies rated from Zero to One star.

Oprah, I am your father.

adrober — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 15:43:20 -0800

How Ebert Gave Oprah Her Start. "Yes, it is true, I persuaded Oprah to become the most successful and famous woman in the world. I was also the person who suggested that Jerry Springer not go into syndication, for which I have received too little credit."

Roger Ebert serves Rob Schnieder

Saucy Intruder — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:32:27 -0800

C'mon, Roger Ebert, tell us what you really think about "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo." And on a completely related note, today Ebert's website launched "Ebert's Most Hated," a collection of classic zero- and one-star reviews. My favorites: "North" and "Freddy Got Fingered."

Holocaust Trumps All

Turtles all the way down — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:13:36 -0800

The 10 unwritten rules of Oscar "For the Academy, whatever stands out the most is best – even though, in terms of quality of work, it’s usually exactly the opposite: the less you notice something, the more accomplished it actaully is. But when it comes to second-guessing Oscar voters, it never hurts to ask yourself: Who did the “most” acting? Most editing? Most noticeable cinematography or music? Most conspicuous costumes or makeup or production design or screenwriting or directing?"

Turns out it was all just a dream of Frankie's

soyjoy — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 10:41:05 -0800

SPOILER ALERT: There's a movie out now that, like The Crying Game, depends for much of its impact on a plot twist. Are critics honor-bound not to blab that development to readers? (More Inside, including, duh, spoilers)

Watching movies in a difficult year

Faint of Butt — Thu, 02 Dec 2004 13:18:06 -0800

On the meaning of life... and movies: The radiation made it difficult for me to handle solid food, and I existed on a product named Ensure, which kept everything humming along. Very early on the first morning in Cannes I woke early, as I always do, and wandered, as I always do, down to the all-night cafe by the port, and ordered, as I always do, a croissant and cafe au lait. I dunked the croissant into the coffee, as I always do, and ate it, and that was the beginning of real food again.

Roger Ebert describes his battles with cancer--and his love of movies--in the introduction to his 2005 Movie Yearbook.

Roger Ebert

realityblurred — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 20:14:41 -0800

Roger Ebert's new web site, launched by the Chicago Sun-Times, includes nearly 10,000 pieces of the newly svelte critic's writing, including more than 5,500 film reviews dating back to 1967. Love him or hate him, that's quite a (free) resource. [via TV Barn]

Roger Ebert Goes to More Than The Movies

fold_and_mutilate — Thu, 24 Apr 2003 09:22:49 -0800

"I begin to feel like I was in the last generation of Americans who took a civics class. I begin to feel like most Americans don't understand the First Amendment, don't understand the idea of freedom of speech, and don't understand that it's the responsibility of the citizen to speak out....When I write a political column for the Chicago Sun-Times, when liberals disagree with me, they send in long, logical e-mails explaining all my errors. I hardly ever get well-reasoned articles from the right. People just tell me to shut up. That's the message: 'Shut up. Don't write anymore about this. Who do you think you are?'" Roger Ebert chats about dissent, celebrities, the power of film to effect change, and Moore.