Remembering a Legend

Earlier this week, I wrote about Roger Ebert's "Leave of Presence" and what he meant to me. Well, you can imagine my shock and sadness at hearing the news of his death today. It was an unreal experience for me, like a punch in the gut. Since I heard the news a few hours ago, all I've been doing is thinking about Ebert and his impact on both my own life and the film community in general.

The way I see it, Ebert was a celebrity; a film critic who moved past the pages of a newspaper and into pop culture. People who weren't involved at film culture at all- my mother, for example- knew about Ebert and actually cared about what he had to say. He, or more accurately, his thumb, became a symbol of film critique for generations, and his voice was one of the most respected in the industry. Yet, he was never pretentious about film itself. This is a man who loved both The Fast and the Furious and The Godfather, a man who wasn't afraid to praise a film he loved regardless of who made it and who its intended audience was. His passion for cinema was apparent to anyone who read his work. Ebert was also interested in interacting with other members of the film loving community, not just being at the head of it. He frequently interacted with film lovers, whether they be professional film critics, people with Twitter accounts or those who commented on his site. A personality like his is a rare thing in today's society, and it will be missed.

But, on a personal level, Roger Ebert's passing is hugely upsetting to me. As I've mentioned before, I probably wouldn't be here writing this post if it wasn't for Roger Ebert. In fact, I probably wouldn't even be interested in journalism at all. It was "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" that made me realize that a movie can be- or, at least, should be- more than just something you "like" or "don't like." It's something you can discuss and analyze. It also taught me that a film, in the best cases, can seriously impact your life. As I got older, I obsessively read through Ebert's reviews, and religiously watched all the archived episodes of "Siskel & Ebert", adding all the films they enjoyed and even some they didn't to my ever-growing list of movies to watch. Some of my all time favorites, including films that a serious impact on my life, I never would have seen had it not been for Ebert and his all-powerful thumb.

Roger Ebert is a legend. There has never been, nor will there ever be again, a movie critic like him. He was an icon for film journalism, as well as a great man and a role model for all those that wanted to write. He was also a major influence on my life. At age ten, two years after I started tuning in to "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper", I told myself that, one day, I'd write and direct a movie that would get 'two thumbs up.' At age 16, when I realized that I'd rather write about film, I constantly looked to Ebert's reviews as sources of inspiration. I dreamed of one day meeting him at a screening, or film festival, or some movie themed event and telling him what his work meant to me. But I'll have to settle for this.

Roger Ebert, you have impacted my life for the better and your work will live on in my heart and the hearts of all those who love movies. Rest in Peace.