Roger Ebert's health is declining

I don't know if anyone else has caught this, but it seems like Roger Ebert has been stuck in the hospital for quite a while now. He had to go in for some emergency surgery to deal with a tumor, and his recovery is dragging on—it's been a long road. In the meantime, they've already cycled through three different critics to fill his seat over at the Chicago Sun-Times... looks like he might be stuck there for a bit longer than expected.

northernscout9 said:I'm not sure if anyone else noticed that the famous American critic Roger Ebert has been in the hospital for quite some time. He had to undergo emergency surgery for a tumor and his recovery has been slow. In the meantime, the Chicago Sun-Times has already cycled through three different critics to fill his spot—it seems he’s stuck...

And who cares? 🤔 I think you've seriously misread the room on this topic...

Why should we even bother worrying? Honestly, if anyone actually cares, they already know. I've been tracking his situation for a few weeks now, but man, instead of all those endless prayers being tossed around on the IMDb forums, they could have actually built something substantial, like some kind of American fortress...🙄

Roger Ebert is a master of his craft. Whether people agreed with his takes or not, I think he was a brilliant critic because of how his prose shifts to match the mood of whatever movie he's reviewing. That touch of literary flair in his writing is such a great seasoning for the whole experience. I guess that's why he earned a Pulitzer.

So, we’re actually discussing movies and acting here, rather than obsessing over famous critics. I didn't lose any sleep when Mel Gibson had his issues, or when Charles Bronson passed away from lung cancer... and so on. But this critic? Never heard of him. 🙄

Oh, honey... 🙂

p.s. 😘

crimsonmoose3 said:Who cares? 🤔 I think you might have posted this in the wrong thread.

🙂

Brenda Lee50 said:Roger Ebert is just a master at what he does. Even if some people didn't see eye to eye with him, I've always thought he was an incredible critic because of his style. He kind of shifts his tone to match the vibe of whatever movie he's reviewing. That literary touch in his writing really adds something special to the whole experience. I guess that's why he earned a Pulitzer.

Roger Ebert is a legend. No matter how much I've moved away from his influence as I've gotten older, or how often I disagree with his takes on certain movies, I have to admit his reviews shaped how I watch films more than anything else. They were witty, unique, and sort of drifted away from that typical journalistic "objectivity" you usually see. Along with Leonard Maltin, he’s probably one of the best out there.

I had no idea he was in the hospital. I really hope he pulls through. 👍

Mr. Natural:
I don't know if anyone else caught this, but I was thinking about how long Roger Ebert has been stuck in the hospital... He had to go in for emergency surgery to deal with a tumor, and he’s been on the mend for quite a while now. Just seems like a long road ahead...

It’s such a shame... 😢

Brenda Lee50:
Man, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have a single thing to worry about?...

🙂

Ebert is a total legend at what he does...

Exactly! It was just me and Roger... sorry, I mean Mr. Ebert... 😳Look, we all have our ups and downs... but at the end of the day, a person is still—as they say—an institution... 👍

I’m actually pretty shocked right now... I hadn't heard a single thing about this news. Even though I don't always agree with his takes—honestly, his whole approach to watching movies and how he rates them isn't really my style—I still think he’s a top-tier columnist and a genuinely brilliant guy. For me, he was always "must-read" material whenever a new movie dropped. I really hope everything turns out okay and that he finds his way back to the keyboard soon. 🙂

For quick access to information: Ebert's site for the Chicago Sun-Times.

As for that slower one: you might as well take a stroll down to the local Starbucks where, for about ten bucks, you can probably get a decent cup of coffee instead. What actually counts as a great movie? It’s a solid buy for the price. Honestly, calling it one of the top 100 isn't quite right anymore since they've released another hundred "best" titles in the meantime, which just bumps the list up to 200 if you're counting alphabetically. Anyway, it's light, informative reading—the kind of thing you pick up on a gloomy afternoon like this one to help digest lunch. Each little essay takes about five minutes, which is a perfect pace for anyone struggling to stay focused. Even if *Wings of Desire* speaks a different language to me than it does to him, it still broadens your perspective. At the end of the day, what matters is feeling the sheer enthusiasm and dedication behind his writing.

Andrew Scott98 said:...I personally think he's an incredible columnist and journalist, and honestly, just a really sharp guy. He was always my go-to read whenever a new movie was coming out. I truly hope everything works out for him and that we see him back at his keyboard again soon. 🙂

I couldn't agree more.

Just over a month ago, he went in for a routine procedure to remove a malignant tumor from his salivary gland. They ended up having to remove and reconstruct part of his right jaw during the process. Then, just when he was finally ready to head home, things took a turn for the worse when blood vessels at the surgical site ruptured—apparently, the tissue had become quite fragile due to radiation treatments he underwent three years back. He ended up being rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Thankfully, he’s out of the woods now, though recovering from those kinds of complications is a long, messy road that doesn't exactly follow a straight line. On the bright side, the doctors are feeling really optimistic about everything.

Thumbs up for Roger. 👍

By the way, the reviews are being handled by Jim Emerson now—he's the editor over at rogerebert.com.

😬

I'm guessing most of you have already laid eyes on this one.

🤣 🤣 I mean, they had such a brilliant connection, 😁 😁

Siskel... and Ebert... and movies... and Asshole... yeah, that's Roger 🤣

Constantin said:Look, this thread is supposed to be about movies and actors, not legendary critics. I didn't lose sleep when Mel Gibson relapsed or when Charles Bronson passed away from lung cancer... stuff like that. But I've never even heard of this critic. 🙄

🤣 and you're acting like he's some kind of gold standard...
..
ontopic: 😢

I have to admit, Ebert is way more imaginative and biting when he starts getting sarcastic.

And man, that ending is pure genius: "Catholics and fucking Jews—we were already burning each other while Martin Luther was still just a twinkle in his father's eye!"

🤣 That’s exactly why Siskel walked away winning in that McDonald's segment!

And that bit at the start:

S: They only Review Two Movies in evening promo...
E: Why? Why those two films?
S: I dunno why. I didn't pick 'em. Ask the person that picked 'em.

😂

Dammit, nothing lasts forever...

I see some people in here trying to act like they're above Roger, treating him like he’s just some random guy when the man is basically a cinematic icon, and honestly, if you don't get why critics actually matter in the art world—which, let's be real, isn't even separate from the entertainment industry—and you're out here disrespecting someone who played such a massive role in The Simpsons, then you're just showing everyone how uncultured you really are.

Anyway, I know Ebert is stuck in the hospital right now because I'm always hanging out on http://www.rogerebert.com, which is easily one of the best free resources on the internet, so I'm just hoping he pulls through soon and gets back to work to fill that massive void in the film world his absence left behind.

Why hasn't someone started a thread about critics? They really are an essential part of the cinematic landscape, aren't they? Personally, I eventually outgrew Ebert for one simple reason: when you’re forced to watch and review ten films every single week, staying original and brilliant becomes an impossible task. You inevitably end up becoming repetitive. I still respect him, though, because he often wrote from such a deeply personal perspective, which isn't a bad thing since we all interpret movies through our own unique lenses. But, he did lose a bit of that spark over time. Regardless, I wish him a speedy recovery.

For me, the highlight of any critique is found in Woody's SUPERSTAR, specifically that bit where he talks about a famous critic who used to hate every movie until he married a woman with a great figure, and suddenly, he loves everything.

It reminds me of how Jurica Pavičić used to despise every single film just a few years back...