ebert and roeper Tagged Articles at Cinematical

I can't say that I got as much of a chance to grow up on "Siskel & Ebert" as much as most of my colleagues -- and not a whole lot of "Ebert & Roeper" either, for that matter -- but I recognize and appreciate the value of two film critics trying to encourage a more popular dialogue about movies. However, ratings and quality both took a dive once Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper took their leave and were promptly replaced by Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz.

Well, since that pairing wasn't exactly cutting it, the show's producers have (wisely) opted to swap out the duo for the Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips and the New York Times' A.O. Scott, who both have previously appeared in lieu of Ebert when he had taken ill and proved their own considerable intelligence and mutual respect for one another, the medium, and their audience.

How many of you still tuned in for the show's latest incarnation? And how many of you are as considerably relieved as many of us that things should take a turn for the better with proper print critics in the seats again come September 5th?

I'm sure I wasn't the only one sad to see Ebert & Roeper officially head off the air recently, but those of you really hurting will be happy to know the show made one final appearance last night during the season premiere of Entourage on HBO. And what a review they gave Medellin -- the fictional Pablo Escobar biopic starring Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) in a horrible fat suit. Last season on the show, the movie premiered at Cannes and was booed off the stage. Thus, at the beginning of this episode (and via Richard Roeper), we learn poor old Medellin went straight to DVD.

My favorite part of the episode, however, comes when Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) enters his office the morning after the Medellin review aired on Ebert & Roeper. And so, for a bonus treat, check out that scene after the jump (though keep in mind a couple of F-bombs are dropped). Love this show. Welcome back boys!

Oh internet, is there anything you can't do? As Monika told you last week, a good portion of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert's classic television reviews have hit the net, and I can't get enough. It used to be I'd have to head down to the Museum of Television and Radio to find old material like this, but I couldn't sit and watch in my boxers there (Believe me, I tried). In addition to the sweater vest - packed Siskel and Ebert material, there's all of the Ebert and Roeper reviews and the Not Siskel and Not Ebert reviews. These include the occasionally awkward celebrity guest shows, like Roeper with John "Cougar" Mellencamp! You can also find cool extras like Roeper talking about the Sopranos finale and answering the question "Have you ever walked out of a movie?" Head here to get started, but be warned, it's mighty easy to get hooked! What reviews are you guys checking out? Have you found any that particularly stand out?

If I had to give you the best place to start, it would be this glorious special episode where Ebert sits down with Martin Scorsese to pick the best films of the 1990s. I've had this on tape since it first aired -- my favorite film critic and my favorite film director having a passionate conversation, it's pure gold. Their choices are terrific, but be prepared to be confused by Scorsese's #1 choice: "Now I'm cheating a bit with my choice for the #1 film of the 90's because it was actually made in '86." Insane, but I guess you don't tell Scorsese he's got to follow the rules. I checked out reviews of some of my favorite films from the last twenty years -- Planes Trains and Automobiles, Unforgiven, Fargo, etc, but these guys are the most fun when they're in complete agreement on hating something. For a perfect example, check out this review of one of Ebert's least favorite movies -- North. And these aren't on the site, but if you've never seen this clip and this clip of the pair ripping each other apart while trying to tape promos, make it a priority. They feel like SNL sketches. Incredible stuff, and believe it or not -- Not Safe For Work!

Director Kevin Smith, guest hosting on Ebert and Roeper this week (he was sitting in for Roger Ebert, who is still recovering), waxed rhapsodic on Half Nelson, which opened today. How much did Smith love Half Nelson? Check out these quotes (courtesy of the PR firm repping the film):

"This pops. This pops in a big bad way. And also, when you look at it, it's the work of people who haven't made a lot of flicks. Like this dude, Fleck, this is, he took the short film he had, blew it up into this feature and it holds . . . You know, like it's an amazing piece to look at where, I sit there as a filmmaker and I'm like, this dude's way better than me. I've been doing this twelve years. This dude is phenomenal."

and ...

"There aren't enough thumbs in the world to do HALF NELSON half the justice it deserves. This is just simply an incredible film."

I have to agree with Smith that Half Nelson is great filmmaking. I'm curious to see how it does, box-office wise. It's opening against another indie flick, Conversations With Other Women, which stars the more well-known Aaron Eckhart and Helena Bonham-Carter, Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, family-flick Zoom, Pulse (which I haven't seen, but it doesn't seem to be the same demographic as Half Nelson anyhow) and dance extravaganza Step Up, which likewise caters to a different crowd. If Half Nelson can build up a little momentum in its release, star Ryan Gosling might very well be one to watch for come Oscar time. He certainly deserves a nod for this performance, but will he get enough notice to rate one?

By the by, no quotes from Ebert and Roeper co-host Richard Roeper were provided by the PR rep, which makes me wonder ... did Roeper not like the film? Or is his opinion just not considered as important as Smith's?

I've been checking almost daily on Roger Ebert's website for an update on his condition, since his emergency surgery last month for a burst blood vessel in his neck following a previous surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. I overheard through the film critic grapevine a couple weeks ago (from a critic who knows Ebert and his wife, Chaz, and had spoken to her by phone) that he was stable and doing better, but hadn't heard any official report as to his status for a while. Today, at last, Chaz Ebert has an update on his site (not that she hasn't had better things to do than to keep the world informed as to her husband's condition -- and we very much appreciate her taking the time to do so). From her update:

"Roger was making good progress and was ready to go to his next phase of treatment, which would have been physical therapy to regain his strength. Well last night Roger had minor surgery, so today, as you can imagine, he feels a bit less cheerful. The doctors remain optimistic about his recovery, however, and say that the physical therapy will be delayed for only a few days."

So, he's still in the hospital, making steady if not linear progress, and as of now things still look good for the big guy. I expect we won't be seeing him around Telluride and Toronto this year, but as he was "secretly back to using his computer," according to Chaz, hopefully as he continues to progress and is able to start physical therapy he'll make the rapid recovery his doctors continue to expect. Chaz asks that Roger's many fans and well-wishers continue to keep him in your healing thoughts and prayers and envision his complete recovery. In the meantime, if you miss Ebert's reviews, you can check out his book, Awake in the Dark, the first complete compilation of his reviews, which will be published this fall by University of Chicago Press. And, as always, we at Cinematical send our own well-wishes for a speedy recovery.

[ via Movie City Indie ]

Word from Kevin Smith on his online diary is that he will be sitting in as a guest critic on Ebert and Roeper next week, subbing in for Roger Ebert, who is still recovering following post-surgery complications. Smith says he and Richard Roeper will be discussing The Ant Bully, Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Miami Vice, Barnyard, and perhaps World Trade Center.

Ebert and Roeper taped six episodes ahead of his surgery, to cover his absence, but the complication of a burst blood vessel requiring emergency surgery has kept the big guy down longer than he anticipated (and, no doubt, he's itching to get out of that hospital bed and back into the balcony). It was announced about a week ago that several guest critics would be invited to fill Ebert's shoes until he's well enough to return. Ebert is still (so far as we know) in Northwestern Hospital, and is reported to be improving.

I like the idea of them bringing guest critics in while Ebert recovers; it takes the pressure off him a bit and, if memory serves, they did the same thing years ago when Gene Siskel was ill. So, readers, what do you think about Kevin Smith as a guest host? And who else in film would you like to see sitting across from Roeper for an episode? Personally, I'm hoping they invited Uwe Boll. Just ... because.