From Scott Collette, Los Angeles, CA:

The summer of 94 took my family from video junkies watching everything at home, to seeing “Speed,” “True Lies,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “Forrest Gump” in theaters. We went to the movies every week after that, but the movies we went to see depended on what Roger said about the films. I was 12. I liked action and adventure and explosions and so quickly Roger became my enemy. I couldn’t go see films I wanted to see because he said they were bad. The next year, when I saw “Pulp Fiction” and “Natural Born Killers,” I loved them. I thought to myself, ‘See, I bet that jerk Ebert doesn’t even know how good these are.’ I picked up my parents’ copy of the movie yearbook. Not only were both four star films, but both were listed on the year’s top ten list. I couldn’t understand how I was so in line with Roger on these, but so far off before. I decided the only way to understand was to read the full reviews in the book. Not only did I understand why he disliked the films I liked (“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” which I still like, and “Dumb and Dumber” which I’ve grown out of) but he allowed me to appreciate new things in his four star films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Natural Born Killers.”

Please share with him this list of great films I would not have seen if it weren’t for his reviews. Now Roger, these may not be the best of the best to you but they certainly are all significant to me and I owe you the thanks for helping me discover these: (in no particular order)

Girl on the Bridge

Amores Perros

Being John Malkovich

Men with Guns

Lone Star

Santa Sangre

Dark City

One False Move

House of Games

Belle de Jour

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

The Exterminating Angel

The Battle of Algiers

Chinatown

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia

El Norte

City of God

L'Avventura

Last Tango in Paris

The Dreamers

Mean Streets

Out of the Past

Paris, Texas

Walkabout

The Terrorist

Eve's Bayou

Exotica

The Sweet Hereafter

Everyone Says I Love You

The Last Seduction

Flirting

The Hairdresser's Husband

After Hours

There are many more and there will be many more. Take your time, but I will be anxiously awaiting your return. Thank you very much for everything you’ve done.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

subscribe icon

The best movie reviews, in your inbox