Roger Ebert's Blog

I was so sad to hear of the death of celebrated filmmaker William "Billy" Friedkin, a director who made one of my favorite films of all time, and who was much admired by my late husband, Roger. I send the deepest condolences to his wife, Sherry Lansing, and their family. I knew both Billy and Sherry as lovely, decent people who, in addition to their talent in the film world, were also philanthropic and reached out to lend a hand in various charitable endeavors. 

Personally, I am so grateful to B...

With Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” releasing in theaters this week, we thought we’d look back at what Roger Ebert wrote about the films of this brilliant filmmaker before his passing. Roger was able to review seven films by Nolan between 2001 and 2012, giving all of them three stars or more. And since Roger’s passing, four more films have been reviewed by Matt Zoller Seitz or Brian Tallerico and awarded the same thumbs up rating. According to this site, Nolan has yet to miss. Below, you’ll f...

Roger Ebert died ten years ago today. He was a friend and mentor to a lot of people. I might have described Roger as a friend and mentor even if I hadn’t ended up getting to know him, taking part in EbertFest at the invitation of Chaz Ebert, then becoming editor-in-chief of this site for a few years after his passing, because Roger was one of those rare writers who seemed to be talking not to some large, faceless audience, but to you alone. 

Chaz asked everyone affiliated with the site to commem...

Movies indeed are empathy machines, but they’re also therapy. As much as they open our minds to new experiences, sometimes we need their help to restore us, to tap into those places we’re otherwise not ready to go. -Valerie Kalfrin (Contributor) “In his stories about people who live far away, you recognize, in one way or another, everyone you know.” -Roger Ebert's last sentence of his review of Yasujiro' Ozu's "Floating Weeds," selected by Wael Khairy (Far Flung Correspondent)

It's hard to beli...

Happy Birthday Roger! Today, June 18th, would be your 80th Earth Birthday! So in anticipation of our Black Writers Week, we are publishing a compilation of 15 reviews of various essential films by Black directors. We hope you are getting a bird's eye view of this. But for those still here, please Click on each title, and you will be directed to the full review...Love, Chaz

Antwone Fisher (2002), directed by Denzel Washington

"'Antwone Fisher,' based on the true story of the man who wrote the s...

Every year, on April 4th, the day that Roger Ebert died in 2013, we give the site back to the man who made it. This year, in honor of the incredible time in which the world finds itself, we thought we’d focus on times that Roger wrote about connection and rebirth—two things that we are all in desperate need of in April 2021. There are certain filmmakers who seem to be regularly interrogating how we connect with one another, and we chose some of Roger’s favorites by those directors, including Wer...

I wasastonished and movedwhen I listened to "Roger Ebert," the new song inspired by words of my late husband, which serves as the lead track on Forever Just Beyond, a new album from guitarist/vocalistEef Barzelay asClem Snide. Barzelay said hislife was falling apart around the time when his band members parted ways, and it was only through forging a deeper connection with his spirituality that he was able to overcome these challenges. On his new album, due out on March 27th, Barzelay...

Roger Ebert's typewriter is currently on display at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as part of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library exhibit, “Writers & Their Tools: Parchment-Paper-Processors.” It features many typewriters previously belonging to literary giants and trailblazing journalists, some of whom are among the college's most influential alumni. In addition to Ebert, past students represented in the exhibit include Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, whose Underwood Standard Por...

This piece was originally published on October 28, 2008 and is being republished for Roger's birthday. 

We critics can't be too careful. Employers are eager to replace us with Celeb Info-Nuggets that will pimp to the mouth-breathers, who underline the words with their index fingers whilst they watch television. Any editor who thinks drugged insta-stars and the tragic Amy Winehouse are headline news ought to be editing the graffiti on playground walls. As the senior newspaper guy still hanging...

This piece was originally published in May 2009 and its being republished for Roger's birthday.

This is one of my favorite pieces that Roger wrote summarizing his beliefs about life. It garnered 582 comments following its publication on May 2nd, 2009. A special thanks to Facebook user Keith Shapiro for reminding us about this piece.—Chaz Ebert

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. I hope to be spared as much pain as...