Comments on: In Ebert I Trust

By: davidfrank

davidfrank — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:02:51 +0000

@Bob: I wasn't so much defending the Four Stars for Knowing as I was Ebert's sincere belief that the film is great — or in general the sincerity of his opinions on any film. If a critic thinks Tom and Jerry: The Movie is the most brilliant thing they've ever seen and they provide a solid context or lens on how they viewed the film and why their opinion fits within that lens, then why should that bother you (Ebert is pretty good at doing this– check out his review of Congo for a great example)? My opinion may differ, but it's not a matter of my opinion being right and Tom and Jerry lover's being wrong. I'm sick of the narrow-minded view that an opinion on a film (as in I liked it, or didn't like it) falls on some absolute scale of right and wrong. If you provide a thoughtful, articulate context to why you believe the way you do on a film, then you're opinion is good whether others disagree or not.

Oh and I saw Knowing last night. And I can definitely see why people hate it. I also understand why Ebert loves it. Personally, I haven't made up my mind on it yet. Say what you will, but the film at the very least isn't dull.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:31:41 +0000

@Bob: OK, Bob. Now I really can't wait to see it.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:25:30 +0000

Sort of ridiculous to defend the Four Stars without having first seen the movie. Whether he's his own man or has in fact lost it, would be a function of the movie's quality, would it not? Could one give a compelling and articulate argument for why Tom and Jerry is the most powerful work ever produced? Would it matter how eloquent the explanation was? How creative the comparisons and conclusions drawn? Would they still just be wrong in a clever and thoughtful way?

This movie sucked ass. And against my better judgment, knowing full well that it'd be panned by other critics, I went to see it SOLELY on the basis of his four star review. His review seriously leads me to question his mental health. And don't get me wrong, I love Ebert, and have been a fan for years, which makes his take on this film all the more curious. This movie has to be seen first to grasp just how awesomely bad and stupid it is.

By: entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com

entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:55:42 +0000

I saw Knowing and really dug it. While its 3rd act gets a little silly its an overall interesting, absorbing and ballsy film. Im glad Ebert really liked it. Good for him!

Chuck

By: zzzz

zzzz — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:33:54 +0000

love ebert but that medication must be strong peter travers is all there is

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:02:19 +0000

Thanks for the article. I've been an online critic for a couple of years now, and bad reviews of movies I like haven't bothered me since middle school. But the Knowing pans are striking a nerve for some reason. I thought it was a great sci-fi movie with a great story, and all most reviewers can do is (A) make fun of Nic Cage, and (B) make fun of the religious themes in the movie. Not for any reason, mind you — they're just making fun of the religious themes because they're there. It's all pointless snark.

I saw it at an advance screening with both critics and a public audience. The "public" part of the audience seemed into it. The only distraction throughout the entire screening? A middle-aged white lady in the critics row who was giggling throughout the climax. Talk about unprofessionalism. I wanted to quit my job and renounce criticism right then and there.

By: JM

JM — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:24:59 +0000

100% agree. His reviews are so fun to read, and he always has his own opinion. Kudos to Roger Ebert for not caring what others think.

By: Eric Hernandez

Eric Hernandez — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:08:55 +0000

As far as I'm concerned, Roger can say whatever the hell he wants. His writing is so fantastic that sometimes reading his reviews is more entertaining that watching the movie itself!

By: The Jackall

The Jackall — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:32:34 +0000

Thank you so much for this article. Roger Ebert is the reason I began paying attention to film reviews. He completely changed the way I watched movies. He's been my constant companion on my journey through film since 1997. While we may not always agree (the two stars he gave Fight Club and the four stars he gave Gangs of New York are still pretty hard to swallow), overall he remains my most trusted source for film reviews.

Here's to another decade of great movie reviews.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:20:53 +0000

he movie was okay, I just hated the ending

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:21:33 +0000

@E-Money: I'm assuming you didn't like Knowing, then? I agree with Ebert. I loved it. And Ebert is a smart dude. You can always see his point, even when you don't agree with it. That's why he's a great writer.

By: Vince

Vince — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:54:40 +0000

@Patricia:

Oh man that review of "Basic Instinct 2" had me in stitches when I read it; I'm actually re-reading it again as I type!

I adore Roger Ebert- I may disagree when it comes to his reviews (who doesn't?) but the man is an excellent – no- fantastic writer who at the very least makes an entertaining review.

By: E-Money

E-Money — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:52:31 +0000

If you actually saw 'Knowing' you would immediately redact this entire article.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:26:50 +0000

Great writing, good article. Totally agree.

By: Amit

Amit — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:44:14 +0000

i agree

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:41:16 +0000

David, well said. Roger Ebert is my guru. I have often totally disagreed with his conclusions but never with the integrity of what he has to say. I've been reading his reviews since I was a teen myself. Although that's an older age than when you started, I suspect my experience might be closer to the beginning of Roger's. He won the Pulizer in 1975 and I was already a critical fan (no pun intended). One of my favorite and revealing Ebert quotes is, "I cannot recommend the movie, but … why the hell can't I? Just because it's godawful? What kind of reason is that for staying away from a movie? godawful and boring, that would be a reason." [Taken from Ebert's review of Basic Instinct 2.]

By the way, to experience writing at its finest both as an art and as a great expression of our humanity, read Roger Ebert's blog each week on his website.

By: King Ralph

King Ralph — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:44:37 +0000

I completely agree . Good artlicle Mr Frank