Roger Ebert dies at 70 after battle with cancer

Roger Ebert dies at 70 after battle with cancer

There is no question that Ebert is the most influential film critic of the past 30 years, possibly ever, although people can also make a good case for Pauline Kael, Andrew Sarris or James Agee.

I did not agree with Mr. Ebert's opinions any more than I agreed with those of very bad critics like Rex Reed, but I consider Ebert the greatest reviewer for one reason: after reading his reviews, I could always tell whether I would like a movie. He wrote some of his most lyrical reviews in defense of awful movies. Lost and Delirious, a sophomoric movie (but one with some great nudity), inspired Ebert to write a review so poignant and personal that it made my eyes water. Ebert's review was, in fact, far more worthwhile than the movie itself. And yet, although he might drown a film like that in praise, or another in scorn, his descriptions and explanations were so thorough that I could tell whether I would like or hate the movie in spite of his admiration or contempt.

To me that is the very definition of a great critic. After all, we don't read reviews to see whether a critic likes a film. Who cares? We read reviews to help determine whether we should spend our time and money on a film. In that respect, Ebert's evocative prose, his willingness to address the film's ideas, his enormous knowledge base, and his descriptive powers made him the best of his generation, perhaps of all time.