If you are someone who truly loves and appreciates movies, you probably felt an extra pang of sadness at the news that Chicago’s own Roger Ebert passed away yesterday at the age of 70.
At the height of their popularity, references to Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert and their “two thumbs up” phrase could be found in moves and TV shows ranging from the Simpsons and the X-Files to Summer School and Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla (Mayor Ebert?).
Ebert was the first film critic to receive a Pulitzer Prize (for Criticism) and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
If you would like to know more about Roger Ebert, we have his autobiography, Life Itself: a Memoir, in our collection. Yesterday, Salon.com re-posted an essay Ebert wrote as part of his memoir titled I Do Not Fear Death. We also have a number of other books he has written or contributed to.
And, finally, if you would like to pay tribute to Roger Ebert just by watching and enjoying a good movie, we have many of the movies he considered as being the greatest of all time in our DVD collection. Stop by the library and check one out.
- Apocalypse Now
- Citizen Kane (which also includes a commentary audio track by Roger Ebert)
- The General
- Raging Bull
- 2001: a Space Odyssey
- Tokyo Story
- Vertigo
- Casablanca (which also includes a commentary audio track by Roger Ebert)
“Kindness” covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do.
–Roger Ebert