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I miss Roger Ebert

Came across this gem from his review of the French horror film Eyes Without a Face. He could write.

"One of the tasks faced by serious filmgoers is to distinguish good films in disreputable genres. It is insufferable to claim you “never” see horror movies (or Westerns, musicals, war movies, teenage romances or slasher pictures). You’re presenting ignorance as taste. The trick is to find the good ones. The French auteur critics did a lot of helpful spadework, resurrecting genres and rehabilitating reputations, but they were not always right–and besides, you have to feel it for yourself. If a film holds my attention, it is in one way or another a good one. If it moves or delights me, if may be great. If I am distracted by its conventions, obligatory scenes and carelessness or lack of ambition, it deserves to be tossed back into the genre."

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by Anonymousreply 3August 23, 2025 8:57 AM

I miss him, too. I didn’t always agree with him, but I thought he brought his love and knowledge of film to a mainstream audience looking for a straightforward review. I thought he was wildly wrong on occasion, but I always respected him.

And I respected him most when he was at the end of his life.

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by Anonymousreply 1August 22, 2025 10:39 PM

I like him too, but I watched Ken Russell’s movie Whore the other day and it was dreadful. Worse than the one he did with Kataleen Turner.

Roger gave it a glowing review and even argued with Gene Siskel about giving it a negative.

by Anonymousreply 2August 22, 2025 10:48 PM

He also wrote the script for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. That was the beginning and end of his screenwriting career.

by Anonymousreply 3August 23, 2025 8:57 AM
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