Roger Ebert:1942-2013

Today, with the passing of Roger Ebert, is a very sad day indeed.  Ebert was a national treasure…in the film world and in popular culture.  Whether you agreed with him or not, he always seemed to command a level of respect among his peers and among the public.  It is a great loss.  NO ONE will be able to replace him.  Other have tried…but never succeeded and never will. 

I used to always say I agreed more with Gene Siskel, Ebert’s longtime TV film critic partner…but I liked Ebert more.  I could say that the main reason for this was that he was a Pulitzer Award winner.  OR that he worked for a more “of the people” paper – The Sun Times.  But, in my heart, as a big gal myself, I think it has to do with his size.  Yes, his size.  Ebert was more human and more approachable to folks because he was a normal guy.  Also, the media always used to poke fun at him for being chubby and he used to take it in stride…with good humor and class.  I think folks found that endearing.  Siskel even used to make fun of his girth and I think people never liked that.  Ebert was the one that more people probably would have wanted to have a drink with…or see a movie with.   

And, as a filmie, Ebert did a lot for film and the  art of cinema. Siskel just used to write reviews.  Ebert’s passion for movies used to come through the page…and also through his many books on film.  In 1997, he began writing articles in The Sun Times entitled THE GREAT MOVIES...which was classic films he loved and cherished.  He wrote so many of these "great movie" articles that he eventually compiled them into books.  Basically, Ebert just loved movies...new movies, classic movies, foreign films, and everything in between. 

Goodbye, Roger.  You will be missed much more than you know!