Posted on 04/03/2013 5:11:16 PM PDT by re_tail20
Thank you. Forty-six years ago on April 3, 1967, I became the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter. However you came to know me, I'm glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.
Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call "a leave of presence."
What in the world is a leave of presence? It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review.
At the same time, I am re-launching the new and improved Rogerebert.com and taking ownership of the site under a separate entity, Ebert Digital, run by me, my beloved wife, Chaz, and our brilliant friend, Josh Golden of Table XI. Stepping away from the day-to-day grind will enable me to continue as a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and roll out other projects under the Ebert brand in the coming year.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.suntimes.com ...
(Another excerpt)
Of course, there will be some changes. The immediate reason for my “leave of presence” is my health. The “painful fracture” that made it difficult for me to walk has recently been revealed to be a cancer. It is being treated with radiation, which has made it impossible for me to attend as many movies as I used to. I have been watching more of them on screener copies that the studios have been kind enough to send to me. My friend and colleague Richard Roeper and other critics have stepped up and kept the newspaper and website current with reviews of all the major releases. So we have and will continue to go on.
At this point in my life, in addition to writing about movies, I may write about what it’s like to cope with health challenges and the limitations they can force upon you. It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital. So on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.
One of his best pieces of writing was his account of what it had been like not to be able to eat solid food for, at that point, five years.
This wouldn’t be happening if we had gay marriage.
How can I miss Roger when he just won't go away?
Not sure I'd miss him even then.
An incredibly admirable man for his spirit in spite of horrendous physical challenges. May God give him courage and comfort.
I’ve read that, and you’re right....a great bit of writing.
I wish Mr. Ebert well; while his politics and mine are quite different, I enjoy his movie reviews and I find myself in agreement with his assessments 90% of the time. He’s one of the best film reviewers out there.
Mr. Ebert, I don’t know if you read FR - but if you read this, I wish you all my best in your fight against cancer.
With Obama-No-Care about to be implemented I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger is scheduled to be Death-paneled.
Death Panels are for those who can’t afford to pay beyond insurance coverage. I’m sure RE isn’t in that category.
I don’t know how he kept going as a movie critic. Movies have been crap for a long time. Occasionally you might have a good one to write about but you could sail to China and back before seeing another one.
Do you have a link for that?
Ebert was not able to eat for his last 5 years because he lost his jaw to cancer. He was horrendously disfigured by the disease. RIP.
thanks for the link!! I just saw the news that he’d died and was really surprised.
I remember watching him and Siskel when I was in college in the mid-70s when they were just starting out on TV — their show came on after midnight — but it was the best.
Yes, RIP, Roger Ebert. Disagreed with his politics but he was the best at movie reviews, there will not be another like him.
That’s funny, I thought he was a horrible movie reviewer. Of course, I’ve always wondered why people need somebody else to tell them whether a movie is worth watching.
His politics was horrible, therefore, any other opinion from him would not be worth the paper it was written on.
well, he was good at parsing movies and I learned from him which ones to stay away from — there are SO few worth watching these days — haven’t been in over 2 years and I love movies.
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