Why oh why did I find the second book first? The story
of my life. Now I have to backtrack and read Book one too. The book is a
collection of essays by Ebert discussing some of the greatest movies of all
time.
This is not a second tier ranking after the films
discussed in book one. It is simply a compilation of essays from Ebert based on
his watching and re-watching of many of these films as well as reviews by he
alone and those he worked on with Gene Siskel.
One thing I love about Ebert is the emotion he writes
with when discussing these films. His true love for the medium as well as his
deep knowledge of all things film comes across in his writing.
The movies cross eras, genres and nationalities. From
France to China, from Japan to Italy, from the United States and Kingdom’s to
Russia, Ebert covers so many films that you are inspired yourself to seek out
some of the more difficult to find titles.
Streaming has opened film buffs to a bevy of
opportunities to see films that would have been restricted to their home
countries or only available to true film buffs in obscure, hard to find places.
Netflix, Hulu and others have opened doors not just to great movies but also
great directors and character and leading actors who have not worked in the
United States.
Roger Ebert’s untimely death was a huge loss for all of
us. His love and warmth regarding films just pours out onto the page and you as
a reader fall in love with film as you read. It is like having Ebert beside you
bringing detail and ideas to your attention as you both eat popcorn with a tall
coke and get lost in celluloid.
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