Roger Ebert dies

The world became a little less familiar today when it was announced that film critic Roger Ebert had died after years of health problems. The details of his death are not as important as the life he led, which was one he dedicated to the art form of moving pictures. He was a tireless champion of film, both gi-normous, summer tentpoles and tiny, independent features as well as an unabashed champion of the movie experience. As such he was a vocal opponent of things he felt turned the cinematic experience into a gimmick (like the recent rash of 3D blockbusters). The lucidity of his writing proved that intelligent discourse didn't have to be elitist and his humor and geniality shone through even when he didn't exactly love a movie.

As Steven Spielberg said today "His reviews went far deeper than simply thumbs up or thumbs down". He was a student of film history and didn't voice opinions he hadn't thought out. Partly because of this he was appreciated by many in the film industry who were always assured that the nation's best known critic would at least give their movie an honest chance.

“The death of Roger Ebert is an incalculable loss for movie culture and for film criticism." Martin Scorcese.

I don't know what I could add to that, except that I grew up watching, listening to and reading Roger Ebert. He was part of the fabric of the culture. As he now departs to join his former reviewing partner Gene Siskel in the big balcony in the sky that culture becomes ever-so-slightly less user friendly.