Roger Ebert is a fan boy too although he tries to downplay it. He's rated many a movie positively (like Daryl Hannah's Summer Lovers) because it made him hard (and yes I think he made that direct admission in one of his writings on that film).
Take this into consideration when you hear a review from these people and remember that you can completely ignore any political comment from Harry or Rog.
Harry's website has a discussion thread under all of his articles. The socialist left there think it is ungodly for conservatives to be allowed to post there. Harry acknowledges that he has conservative readers; he baits them but doesn't trash them (although his other staffers DO). He loved The Passion though and had Mel Gibson show it last year at this birthday (along with a Q&A with Mel).
I posted this piece from Harry because it seems to indicate that these films were more swayed by the personal whims of Quentin Tarantino (a friend of Harry Knowles) and the various financial ties/friendships that the judges hold with the films/persons who won Cannes awards this year.