Today is Roger Ebert’s birthday. Sixty-seven years young. I wish him a long prose-ful life.
A little more than a year ago, I discovered his official website and journal. It was easy to identify my role model in criticism and I started religiously reading his reviews and blogs, even though I have little chance of watching most of those movies and his anecdotes are sometimes difficult for me to appreciate. (Some of these journals will become part of his memoirs.) I read them for the pure joy of reading the prose written by a great writer and an amazing person.
I am greatly influenced by him and whatever I understand about film criticism is through his reviews, critiques and journals. While I am acerbic by nature, he constantly reminds me that my desire to be a film critic comes from my passion for writing and love not loathing for movies. Not long ago, I told a friend that if Roger Ebert was willing, I would buy a one-way ticket to Chicago and become his slave. (I stand by my “offer”, Master Ebert; we can keep it legal.)
I planned on listing some qualities to describe him, but the list was becoming longer than my English vocabulary. Two thumbs up!
Image Source: The New York Times
Image Description: Roger Ebert with Gene Siskel.