Rodger Ebert succumbed to his cancer this week and it only
fitting that I post about him and his work and his influence on me. I remember watching
him when I was a kid and truly enjoyed his reviews and his arguing with his
partner Gene Siskel. Even when His and Siskel did not see eye to eye, it was a disagreement that was done out of respect because a good healthy dialog expressing points of view were valued. What I enjoyed most in his work was that he spoke to the audience
because he was truly in love with movies. When I was a kid I used to measure my
views with his almost like walking in his footsteps to help develop my film palate.
When I was older I found myself not agreeing with his views as often because I
had developed my own tastes but I always appreciated his point of view. His reviews
were written in a very conversational style it was very open, honest and beautifully
written. His passion for film was infectious, I remember reading his reviews
and it seemed like he was talking directly to me. In High school I was in the drama club all four yeas I was a performer. It was my dream to one day
have my performance reviewed by him.
I met him once in Boulder, Colorado after I had gotten out
of the Army. I was floating around not really knowing what to do with my life
and he was hosting a screening of Silence of the Lambs. It was magical to be in
the same room with him, I was completely start struck. After the screening he
was talking with people, he was answering questions and was completely approachable,
he answered every question without seeming put out or rushed. I stood close by
for his entire time there, I was really directionless and had no place to go,
he had to answer one question three different times and each time he did he was
without frustration or being short tempered. He had gotten through all of the
questions and turned to me, looked me in the eye and the best I could muster
was a stupid grin and a short nod of acknowledgement.
If I could jump back to that moment, I would say thank you.
Thank you for the years of inclusion I felt through your work. For giving the title
of critic a good and solid bar to be measured by for providing an example for new
and upcoming writers who love movies just as much as you do. Thank you for not
looking down your nose at movies. Thank you for your honesty and your support
of the explosion of new media. I know that at the time he hadn’t done some of these
things yet but, hey I am going back in time from today. Perhaps this is a
lesson to not let the opportunities pass, live your life with an understanding that
nothing last forever and when you have an opportunity take it, don’t just grin
and nod your head.
He had a story at the front of his book “Your Movie Sucks”
it was about the first time he viewed the movie The Brown Bunny how he talked
with Vincent Gallo about the problems with the movie and Mr. Gallo went back
and re-cut the film, This is how I see his reviews as not sharp barbs or
insults but a real desire to get people to improve their product. He knew the power
of the medium, and he at times pleaded with some filmmakers to make a better
product for social reasons.
Another example of his wonderful support was his help for a
blog called the Mandy / Ebert Project; he gave her some encouragement by
directing people to her blog. The direction of the blog was that Mandy is going
to go through his book and review each movie. It was acts like this that really
highlight how wonderful he was. You can read her stuff here The Mandy/Ebert Project
she is truly a talented writer. I am trying to make my voice heard in this huge universe
of media, if I ever make it as someone with influence I am going to live by his
example and support people who are struggling to get started. Whoever asks for
help I am going to try and help as best I can. How you treat your fans is so
telling, I think that is the difference between true greatness and just fame.
Writing feels hollow now, I feel like a complete and total
fraud for ever trying to write reviews but I guess it’s going to take more
writing to fill the gap left by him. I don’t presume to be a replacement for
Mr. Ebert no one ever can. All I can do is promise to keep the conversation
open in the same manner he did, with tireless dedication and a passion for the movies.
It’s his way of communicating that I am trying to model. I write
my reviews in a limited explanation of the movie to make sure to not give
anything away. If you see it in the trailer I write about it so they are giving
away the spoilers not me. I try and keep
the technical jargon to a minimum if you want to talk about the Depth of field
of a shot or the 1800 rule, well it seems like more of a guideline
today, The benefits of mes en scene or shot composition, or how the 3D effects
after productions are completely different from the shots captured with a 3D
camera we can do that. How a long take is different than tracking shot and it
can be the most underappreciated and the most challenging shot to do.
Most people want to talk about how the stories made them feel
what effect it had on them and I am willing to have whatever conversation you
want but I am going to gear my reviews to just the person who enjoys movies and
the conversation that happens after them. Good movie or bad movie it doesn’t
matter, what you take away from it is way more important than what aspect ratio
they filmed it in.
In parting I would just like to say Mr. Ebert if you can read
this, know I am going to try my best to keep up the good fight for communicating
and supporting this thing we both love, movies. Rest well sir, rest well.
