Ed's Review Dot Com

CNN Films, Film Rites, Kartemquin Films,

Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, Marlene Siskel

This documentary was requested by Robert Ebert himself prior to his death in 2013. This film chronicles his life from a young man and early work for a Chicago paper as a sportswriter, and then as one of the early movie critics. He came into his own with Gene Siskel and became on of the most well known movie critics of all times. Then Cancer came calling and we have seen the shell of the man with a quick mind and all of his wit and wisdom who worked till the last. We learn a lot about Mr Ebert, his attitude, self confidence, and self esteem. Yet he was loved and feared at the same time. With a quick slash of his pen he could devastate a directory or an actor, and wipe out a movie, yet he viewed movie criticism as conversation, where it’s is fun to disagree and yet you can never be persuaded or change your mind once you’ve chosen a side. His battles with Gene Siskel, a personal competitor since he became the critic for a competing newspaper, and what came from pure hatred turned into mutual respect, yet they still took pot shots at each other throughout.

This is a very well done movie documentary, and I learned a great deal about both Siskel and Ebert, and how their careers and legacies were created, but also a lot of personal stuff about the life of this man I thought I knew that was intensely satisfying considering I knew none of that. Roger wanted his story told, and when his wife Chaz objected, he would wait until a day when she was not around and go ahead and do it his way without her having to see it. Right until the end, which is very vividly portrayed, they followed Roger’s demand that if you’re going to tell the story, you tell ALL of it and hide nothing. Based on his memoir, this film is right to the point and quick to the punch, and after it’s over, you’ll feel like you’ve been punched in the gut, but with a greater respect and admiration for one of America’s greatest writers. If you enjoy biographies and documentaries, then this is an excellent one.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Paramount Pictures

Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Max von Sydow

Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film could have been a blockbuster but for one major flaw.  It was horribly wrongly marketed!  The previews and the advertisements certainly made this film out to be something that it was NOT, and when people saw it, they were deeply disappointed.  They were expecting a horror spectacular, a supernatural thriller, and it wasn’t anything like that at all.   This is a suspenseful mind game from start to finish.  You will never be able to relax, as you don’t know where you are or which way is up!  Nothing is what it seems, then it changes, but it’s not that either.  I don’t want to compare it to other films, as the comparison would give away the secrets of the story, but let me say it’s not a horror movie at all.

However it’s a wild ride and very nerve wracking and suspenseful.  It keeps you on your toes through it all.  There are clues, but they are easy to miss.  It’s much easier to watch and listen and be confused for a long time till at the end it becomes crystal clear.  There are evil villains and heroes galore, but you can never tell who is who.

It’s got great cinematography and eerie atmosphere.  This place is not a fun place to live, that’s for sure!  And this guy volunteered to go!  Wow.

DiCaprio has been is some strange movies lately (see Inception for an example).  Not sure what his career goal is in doing this, but working with Martin Scorsese must have been a blast.  And there are some fantastic actors in this film!  Max von Sydow and Ben Kingsley.  This must have been a joy to make.

I haven’t read the book, but I bet it’s a good read, but the movie is a great suspenseful ride if you don’t come in expecting a horror flick.  If you like your mind bent into weird shapes, this will do it!   If you’re one of those folks that figures out what’s going on before it happens, then good for you.  I’m kind of glad to be dumb enough to not see it coming and get shocked in the end.  And after the shock, is a few more shocks.  You might end up like some who ended this movie with “What just happened???”   The last few minutes are up for interpretation, but it’s a clever ending.  If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean.   This was filmed in Acadia National Park in Maine, and it’s a perfect setting.

Oh if they had just marketed this right, people would have looked at it with different eyes and it “could have been a contender.”