Hot new photos of Roger Ebert.

[Chigworthy]

http://64.111.216.18/ul/2188-re.jpg

[burrben]

what the fuck happened to him? i thought he had a heart operation but it looks like he had a stroke.

[MadMatt]

It looks like being a Movie Critic in Chicago might be the most dangerous job in the world. Apparently, it makes you prone to disease and lingering death...

F those Crab fishermen - you try watching "Glitter" the whole way through!

[Furtherman]

He looks like he should be chained up in an old restaurant basement watching old Eryol Flynn movies with Chunk.

[Chigworthy]

I guess he had salivary gland cancer and it spread to his jawbone. I saw it at wwtdd.com.

edit* Someone with far less tact than I would say that at least now he lost some weight.

[A.J.]

I loved his guest appearances on Night Court.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/360000/images/_361952_torme300.jpg

[pennington]

I read an interview with him last year where he said when he was a kid he had an ear infection and the doctor blasted it with a high dose of radiation (which was considered a miracle cure in the 50's).

Anyway, it caused him to have tumors later in life that spread to his glands. So he's had several operations to remove them and (ironically) radiation treatments.

[torker]

It's not a tumor.

[pennington]

It's not a tumor.

Whatever. According to him, the cancer was caused by the childhood treatment. He seems to have a good attitude about.

[sailor]

It's not a tumor.

haha we used to make that joke anytime amani toomer's name was mentioned.

[Yerdaddy]

He's still got his balls though.

Message from Roger Ebert on the eve of the 9th Overlooked Film Festival (aka Ebertfest): (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/PEOPLE/70423001)

My Ninth Annual Film Festival opens Wednesday night at the University of Illinois at Urbana, and Chaz and I will be in attendance. This year I won’t be speaking, however, as I await another surgery.

I have received a lot of advice that I should not attend the Festival. I’m told that paparazzi will take unflattering pictures, people will be unkind, etc. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. As a journalist I can take it as well as dish it out.

I was told photos of me in this condition would attract the gossip papers. So what? I have been very sick, am getting better and this is how it looks. I still have my brain and my typing fingers.

Although months in bed after the bleeding episodes caused a lack of strength and co-ordination, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago restored my ability to walk on my own, climb stairs, etc. I no longer use a walker much and the wheelchair is more for occasional speed and comfort than need. Just today we went for a long stroll in Lincoln Park.

We spend too much time hiding illness. There is an assumption that I must always look the same. I hope to look better than I look now. But I’m not going to
miss my Festival.

Why do I want to go? Above all, to see the movies. Then to meet old friends and great directors and personally thank all the loyal audience members who continue to support the Festival. At least, not being able to speak, I am spared the need to explain why every film is “overlooked,” or why I wrote “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.”

Being sick is no fun. But you can have fun while you’re sick. I wouldn’t miss the Festival for anything!

P.S. To Gossip Rags: I have some back pain, and to make it easier for me to sit through screenings, the Festival has installed my very own La-Z-Boy chair. Photos of me in the chair should be captioned, “La-Z-Critic.”

The rest of the note is the details of his illness.

I used to think Ebert was the pompous ass when he was half of Siskel & Ebert. But as I got more and more into films I started to noticed that I agreed with him about the movies and that sometimes when he seemed like he was being arrogant he was actually making strong and valid criticizms of things like film studios hyping shitty movies, good filmmakers not finding backers for good films and studios meddling in movies and ruining them. About the time I sobered up and movies became my safety net Ebert became the only movie critic I trust. I have a formula now: I look at the cumulative critic scores on rottentomatoes.com, I look at the cumulative audience ratings on IMDB and I read Ebert's reviews. I don't see many shitty movies anymore. He knows his shit.

I love the guy and I'm not the least bit surprised that these pics of him are from his own website and that if anyone's got a problem with how he looks they can kiss his hairy yellow butt.

I love the title of his new book too:
http://ebimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=EB&Dato=20070423&Kategori=COMMENTARY&Lopenr=70424001&Ref=AR&maxw=150

In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.

Ebert was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2005, the first professional film critic to receive one.

[drusilla]

his face droops a bit because i think they had to remove part of his jaw

[Tall_James]

http://64.111.216.18/ul/2188-re.jpg

http://www.steveohville.com/unmaskedvader.jpg

[Yerdaddy]

http://www.steveohville.com/unmaskedvader.jpg

Dude! Send him that photo and I bet he says "hmmmm..."

[Yerdaddy]

But from the looks of him that's all he says anyway.

[GreatAmericanZero]

seriously, i was so depressed seeing Roger Ebert at the DGA awards. I found this piece to show the shape hes in

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UzSQxa90-8c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UzSQxa90-8c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

i grew up watching him. its so sad to me to see him like that. But i will say this, the voice synthesizers are definitley getting better

[KingGeno]

Well at least he can take any news with a smile.

[Puggle_kicker]

If I ever get that bad I'll overdose on H. Just float away . . . .

http://cannazine.co.uk/images/stories/drugs/heroin-needle-and-candle.jpg

[GreatAmericanZero]

they mention his wife and it makes me think...you really gotta love someone to stick with them after they lose their jaw and can't speak. thats gotta be a terrible situation when his computer goes down and he has to communicate through blinks and hand gestures.

if i had no jaw i think i would understand if my wife fucked around. you gotta let her at that point

[skyscraper]

Stephen Hawking, British physicist/theorist/ALS patient used to complain about his voice synthesizer because it had an American accent. now Ebert, a native Chicagoan, has one that has a British accent.
what the fuck.

[GreatAmericanZero]

Stephen Hawking, British physicist/theorist/ALS patient used to complain about his voice synthesizer because it had an American accent. now Ebert, a native Chicagoan, has one that has a British accent.
what the fuck.

i had no idea Stephen Hawkings was british. I thought he was one of us. Goddammit, i haven't been this disappointed since i learned Iron Maiden was british

[hammersavage]

I'd rather be Siskel.

[Judge Smails]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Burned-Lower-R.jpg

[donnie_darko]

its weird that he looks really good besides his jaw.. but his facial expression doesn't seem to change.

i had no idea he was in such bad shape... looks like he's dealing with it well though.

[KEITHJAY]

looks like hes lost some weight

[KEITHJAY]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Burned-Lower-R.jpg

thats great

[Sinestro]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Burned-Lower-R.jpg

Can I get 9 more comics to I can get that secret club ring???

Damn 2 months and 1/2 is a long time.

[EliSnow]

I think he's probably happier being in that condition than being dead.

And although television made him popular and wealthy, his real talent was his writing about movies. He's the only movie critic to ever win a Pulitzer Prize.

I recommend his two books on "Great Movies." Each has a "review" of great Hollywood movies. I'm a big fan, simply because reading his reviews and other writings conveys a huge love of movies and has helped me enjoy movies more.

[GreatAmericanZero]

I think he's probably happier being in that condition than being dead.

And although television made him popular and wealthy, his real talent was his writing about movies. He's the only movie critic to ever win a Pulitzer Prize.

I recommend his two books on "Great Movies." Each has a "review" of great Hollywood movies. I'm a big fan, simply because reading his reviews and other writings conveys a huge love of movies and has helped me enjoy movies more.

you could find them all at rogerebert.com. i still read it every week and have been for probably 10 years

[AnnoyedGrunt]

And although television made him popular and wealthy, his real talent was his writing about movies. He's the only movie critic to ever win a Pulitzer Prize.


Stephen Hunter from the Washington Post also won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism.

(Though that makes me wonder if Ron could be nominated for being highly critical of his staff)

[lleeder]

He said since the surgery he has a new appreciation for Eyes Wide Shut.

[Reynolds]

if i had no jaw i think i would understand if my wife fucked around. you gotta let her at that point

Who's to say she already isn't?

[biozombie]

Thanks GAZ, thanks for sharing that nightmare inducing clip with us.

[fezident]

Please tell me this is a bit.

[WhistlePig]

Poor fucker. It sucks to think this could happen to any of us.

[epo]

I still think Ebert is the best film critic working today. He picked up the mantle after the great Pauline Kael passed away and hasn't stopped despite all of his health issues.

He is one of the few critics that I think takes the art of film seriously...and understands that a great film can tell a story on multiple levels. To listen or read some of these pinheads after you've read an Ebert review is simply embarrassing.

[pennington]

Poor fucker. It sucks to think this could happen to any of us.

I heard Ebert interviewed about this a few years ago. When he was a kid in the 50's, he had an ear infection and the doctor gave him a large dose of radiation which was the "new" treatment at the time. That's what caused the cancer and it's spread.

My mother told me in the 50's, there were even shoe stores that had X-Ray machines and you could put your foot in them to see the bones in your feet. People didn't realize the damage it could do. Imagine how many clerks, doctors and nurses who would up with cancer. Now they use less radiation, put that lead blanket on you and the nurse leaves the room.

[GreatAmericanZero]

I still think Ebert is the best film critic working today. He picked up the mantle after the great Pauline Kael passed away and hasn't stopped despite all of his health issues.

He is one of the few critics that I think takes the art of film seriously...and understands that a great film can tell a story on multiple levels. To listen or read some of these pinheads after you've read an Ebert review is simply embarrassing.

the only problem with Ebert is that he throws 4-stars around like its nothing. 4 stars for "Lakeview Terrace" c'mon

[TheMojoPin]

the only problem with Ebert is that he throws 4-stars around like its nothing. 4 stars for "Lakeview Terrace" c'mon

Aren't the stars thrown on by the paper after the fact? It seems like half the time the stars don't even match the content of the review.

[EliSnow]

the only problem with Ebert is that he throws 4-stars around like its nothing. 4 stars for "Lakeview Terrace" c'mon

Aren't the stars thrown on by the paper after the fact? It seems like half the time the stars don't even match the content of the review.

I don't think so. Ebert has always said that his reviews and the stars I believe take into account what type of movie it is.

For instance, he could give a great review and four stars to some genre movie, because, for that genre, it was a great movie, but he may give a more serious movie the same rating, but in his mind, the more serious movie is the better movie.

I always liked that about him. You have to remember that he's not supposed to be just a "soundbyte" movie guy, although that's how the studios use his review.

You really have to go back to his review to get a full sense of why he liked/disliked a movie.

[EliSnow]

you could find them all at rogerebert.com. i still read it every week and have been for probably 10 years

I know, but it's nice to have a book in your hands about movies rather than just reading them on line.

[GreatAmericanZero]

I don't think so. Ebert has always said that his reviews and the stars I believe take into account what type of movie it is.

For instance, he could give a great review and four stars to some genre movie, because, for that genre, it was a great movie, but he may give a more serious movie the same rating, but in his mind, the more serious movie is the better movie.

I always liked that about him. You have to remember that he's not supposed to be just a "soundbyte" movie guy, although that's how the studios use his review.

You really have to go back to his review to get a full sense of why he liked/disliked a movie.

yeah, i know and understand his stance..i've been reading him forever. but still...he does give 4 stars waaaaaaaay too much. Like use "Lakeview Terrance" for an example, does that film fall into any of the examples of "4 star"-ness. Its not a great drama. It strives for greatness being about race relations...but it ends up a silly "stalker neighbor" story. It was just a "seen it before" silly type movie.

[EliSnow]

yeah, i know and understand his stance..i've been reading him forever. but still...he does give 4 stars waaaaaaaay too much. Like use "Lakeview Terrance" for an example, does that film fall into any of the examples of "4 star"-ness. Its not a great drama. It strives for greatness being about race relations...but it ends up a silly "stalker neighbor" story. It was just a "seen it before" silly type movie.

Haveb't seen it so I can't comment.

[fezident]

Welp... it looks like the "Bens" got fired after only one year.... and the producers of this franchise are anxious to bring some credibility back to the show.

Good stuff.

<embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1691028013" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=35277325001&playerId=1691028013&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="322" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed>

[Doctor Z]

And you thought Gene Siskel had it bad? God must hate movie critics.

http://www.esquire.com/features/roger-ebert-0310?=rss

[Crispy123]

And you thought Gene Siskel had it bad? God must hate movie critics.



fuckface the clown?

http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/wC/roger-ebert-jaw-cancer-photo-esquire-0310-lg.jpg

[pennington]

I didn't read that whole novel of an article but I recall years ago Ebert saying in an interview that when he was a kid in the 50's with some sort of minor ailment, the doctor blasted it with a heavy dose of radiation, which was in vogue at the moment. Sad what he had to go through because of that.

[instrument]

i tried to read the article, mainly to learn why they can't just throw some plastic in there to fill it out.

did anyone find out why?

[Chigworthy]

http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=59379

The merge police lurk...

[Crispy123]

seriously, someone needs to merge that hack old thread with this fresh new hot thread!

[Chigworthy]

seriously, someone needs to merge that hack old thread with this fresh new hot thread!

I agree. This hack old one (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77222&highlight=roger+ebert) needs to be merged with this fresh new hot thread, and then the both of 'em merged with my original, groundbreaking classic thread.

[SatCam]

i tried to read the article, mainly to learn why they can't just throw some plastic in there to fill it out.

did anyone find out why?

it said they tried several times to reconstruct his jaw by grafting skin from his shoulders and his legs but each time it failed

[El Mudo]

it said they tried several times to reconstruct his jaw by grafting skin from his shoulders and his legs but each time it failed


Yeah....and with all the bone grafts his legs have significantly weakened. According to the article, it takes a ton out of him physically every time they try.

[TripleSkeet]

fuckface the clown?

http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/wC/roger-ebert-jaw-cancer-photo-esquire-0310-lg.jpg

"Whats wrong with your faaaaace?"

[pennington]

"Whats wrong with your faaaaace?"

Too soon...

[TripleSkeet]

Too soon...

Well I just figured being a movie reviewer and all....

[A.J.]

"Whats wrong with your faaaaace?"

Sadly, I said the same thing when I first saw that.

I'm going to hell.

[Hottub]

Sadly, I said the same thing when I first saw that.

I'm going to hell.

I'll save you a seat.

[TripleSkeet]

I'm going to hell.

Save me a beer.

[Gerald]

He became a real crank about his political prejudices after he turned into a hideous monster. It got to the point where I had to stop following his Twitter because the imbalance was so annoying, petty and childish. I was annoyed by the idea that he thinks he can spout off this line of talk with impunity because his health misfortunes place a barrier of sympathy between him and anyone who would call him out for being an unreasonable douche-bag. His brilliant writing makes his movie reviews always worth the read, even though he can always be counted on to champion mediocrity, especially when it contains an oversimplified, spoon-fed message of racial harmoniousness.

[KC2OSO]

they mention his wife and it makes me think...you really gotta love someone to stick with them after they lose their jaw and can't speak. thats gotta be a terrible situation when his computer goes down and he has to communicate through blinks and hand gestures.

if i had no jaw i think i would understand if my wife fucked around. you gotta let her at that point
um no you have to make sure the insurance is up to date and make a graceful exit

[thepaulo]

He inspires me. It reminds me of Tuesdays with Morrie.
http://www.popeater.com/2010/04/20/chaz-roger-ebert-cancer-interview/?icid=webmail|wbml-aol|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2010 %2F04%2F20%2Fchaz-roger-ebert-cancer-interview%2F