Great Movies
Features
Short Films in Focus: Visitors
An interview with the director of Vistors, and a presentation of the short film.
An interview with the director of Vistors, and a presentation of the short film.
A preview of the 5th Chicago Critics Film Festival, which runs from May 12-18 at the Music Box Theater.
A video of Bill Paxton's 2001 appearance at Ebertfest, where he discussed "A Simple Plan" with Roger Ebert and composer Brian Tyler.
Sam Fragoso chats with Kim Robeson, an Ebertfest lover who has been coming since the very first year.
Susan Wloszczyna will be covering the Toronto International Film Festival for us. Here's what to expect.
Thumbs up for a quick recovery.
Roger Ebert is in serious but stable condition after suffering a burst blood vessel near the site of an operation two weeks ago to remove cancerous growths from his salivary gland. These kinds of things are always scary, and I can't concentrate on much of anything but wishing for Roger's quick recovery. Thanks, too, to all of you who have sent e-mails with your best wishes. I'm saving them up to send to Roger and Chaz once he's out of the hospital.
Just to keep the positive recuperative vibes flowing, I'm posting this picture -- one of my favorites -- that I took at an Overlooked Film Festival reception at the Playboy Mansion in 2000. Here he is with Mark Borchardt of "American Movie" (who's holding a beer and a screwdriver -- which was pretty much the case for the entire evening). The great thing about this shot is that Roger did his thumb gesture just as I was about to take the picture, and Mark immediately put both his drinks in one hand so he could reciprocate. Just one of many great times I've had with Roger, and here's to many more!
UPDATE 07/04/06: Chaz Ebert has an update on Roger's condition.
Q. Given that Ed Harris spends much of "The Third Miracle" looking for the titular third miracle, a remarkable feat that would guarantee Helen O'Regan sainthood, I find it extraordinary that he overlooks what seems to me to be her most amazing accomplishment: Having herself videotaped at a first-communion party in 1970, long before the advent of camcorders. (Tim Carvell, Los Angeles)
TORONTOWaiting in the lobby of the Elgin theater Friday night, I talked to a guy who had seen 45 films in this year's Toronto Film Festival: "Yesterday I saw a $60 million movie I can hardly remember, and a $40,000 film I'll never forget."
PARK CITY, Utah How long has it been since I saw a film that was really scary, instead of just going through the motions of scary? Most horror films are merely exercises in ritualized surprise, but a low-budget film titled "The Blair Witch Project" shook up Sundance Film Festival audiences with its gathering sense of menace.
