Sad News today. Roger Ebert died. He and Gene Siskel elevated movie reviews and cinema in general with “Sneak Previews,” then later “At the Movies.”
It all started locally in Chicago, then moved nationwide on PBS.
Back in their heyday Siskel and Ebert were invited to a convention of broadcast promotion directors. Among others, they reviewed a promo from Channel 8 featuring me. Two thumbs up.
Years later I separately thanked both of them. They both claimed to remember the spot.
You’re going to read a lot about Roger Ebert’s history over the next few days. I’d like to talk a little about his recent past.
Roger was first diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and underwent treatment. There were various stories, but in retrospect it’s obvious the cancer never went away. It slowly ate at the physical Roger Ebert.
In 2006, surgery on his jaw left him disfigured, without a voice or the ability to eat or drink.
I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can’t say it wasn’t interesting. My lifetime’s memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower I brought home from Paris. – Roger Ebert in Esquire Magazine 2010.
There was a chance more surgery might have lengthened his life, but based on earlier surgery that backfired, he decided to do without.
Suffering a condition that would have stopped most of us, Roger Ebert continued his life and said fuck you¹ to his cancer.
He remained a prolific film reviewer, mentioning a few days ago how he’d reviewed more films in 2012 than ever before.
He was even more prolific as a social commentator. Following his feed on Twitter was a gift. The same goes for his longer online musings. He always wrote, because he always had something to say.
The online world was perfect for Ebert. He embraced the freedom and reach it afforded him.
There is a Frank Sinatra song I remember from childhood. It came to mind as I began to write this.
I’m gonna live till I die! I’m gonna laugh ‘stead of cry,
I’m gonna take the town and turn it upside down,
I’m gonna live, live, live until I die.
They’re gonna say “What a guy!” I’m gonna play for the sky.
Ain’t gonna miss a thing, I’m gonna have my fling,
I’m gonna live, live, live until I die.– I’m Gonna Live Till I Die by Hoffman, Kent and Curtis
Roger Ebert was 70.
The balcony is closed.
¹ – That is a phrase I have never used on this blog, but I feel it is appropriate here to best describe Ebert’s attitude. I apologize to those offended. That is not my intention.