A Tribute to Roger Ebert

I was incredibly saddened to hear about the death of my hero, Roger Ebert. Mr. Ebert lost his battle with cancer, one he had been battling for years. I never got the chance to meet Roger, but in a strange way, he felt like a close friend to me. Before I really knew that film criticism was something I wanted to get into, Roger got me excited about movies in a way I never had before. Sure, I was entertained by movies, like many kids are. Roger showed me that movies could be something more than just entertainment, they can be an art form. Movies can have an effect on audience members in ways that almost no other medium can produce.

Mr. Ebert caused me to look deeper into the films I watched and to better express the experience I had watching them. I was inspired at an early age by his optimism and obvious passion for the movies. I always enjoyed watching YouTube clips of him arguing with Gene Siskel and Richard Roeper about the merits, or lack thereof, of a particular film. Like many great writers, Roger Ebert was an exceedingly clever and witty man. He once said, "Every great film should seem new every time you see it." This is true of two of my favorite films, The Godfather and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Here are some of my favorite lines Ebert wrote about terrible movies he had to sit through:

Freddy Got Fingered (2001)-"This movie doesn't scrape the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't below the bottom of the barrel. This movie doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with barrels."

North (1994)-"I hated this movie. Hated, hated, hated, hated, hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it."

Armageddon (1998)-"No matter what they're charging to get in, it's worth more to get out."

Without Roger, I would not be writing reviews on this blog at all. If I ever become a professional film critic, it will be because of Roger Ebert. I am not alone in my appreciation of Mr. Ebert, as Twitter was flooded today with kind words from filmmakers, actors, fellow critics and film fans alike. A recurring theme amongst all of the various tributes was Roger's kindness and humanity. These qualities are what made Roger so accessible to audiences; he was a likable, intelligent everyman who wanted to share his love for movies with the world.

Roger Ebert taught me that a great critic is not one who is cynical and snobby, but instead should be humorous and passionate. It's important to respect everyone's opinion, because after all, it's only a movie. Roger Ebert seemed to have a real joy for life and an endless enthusiasm for movies. Ebert's colleague, Richard Roeper, described Ebert's constant excitement whenever the lights would go down in a movie theater. Even in the face of death, Ebert showed true dignity and grace. In his blog post from 2011 titled "I do not fear death," Ebert wrote, "I will pass away sooner than most people who read this, but that doesn't shake my sense of wonder and joy." I can only hope that when I am Ebert's age I will be just as positive and optimistic as I am now.

Ebert concluded his final blog post, published last Tuesday, saying "I'll see you at the movies." It was a statement he made frequently, one that continues to resonate after his death. I may never have gotten to meet Mr. Ebert, but I know that when I am watching a truly great movie in a theater, having a collective experience with an engaged audience, that he is there, with me, at the movies. Even though the lights have gone down in the theater, I can still make out Roger Ebert, smiling at the screen and giving me the thumbs up. Thank you, Mr. Ebert.