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Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert Quotes

Film critic

Roger Ebert was a renowned American film critic, born on June 18, 1942, and passed away on April 4, 2013. Known for his unique style of film criticism and profound insights into the art of cinema, he served as a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and founded the influential film review website RogerEbert.com.

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Famous Roger Ebert Quotes

“One sign of a great actor is when he can be alone by himself on the screen, doing almost nothing, and producing one of a film's defining moments.”

Moments Film Actors Screens Defining Great Actors Defining Moments

Book:The Great Movies IV

Source: The Great Movies IV

“People never think of themselves as choosing to be politically correct. They simply think in the way that they do.”

People Thinking Way Politically Correct

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“Reese Witherspoon is as cute as a button on Raggedy Ann's overalls, but irresistible raw sex appeal is not one of her qualities.”

Sex Quality Appeals Cute Buttons Irresistible Sex Appeal Overalls

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“Samurai films, like westerns, need not be familiar genre stories. They can expand to contain stories of ethical challenges and human tragedy.”

Needs Humans Stories Film Challenges Tragedy Familiar Genre Ethical Samurai

Book:The Great Movies IV

Source: The Great Movies IV

“Sometimes, it's all about the casting.”

Sometimes Casting

Author:Roger Ebert

“That's what fantasies are for, to help us imagine that things are better than they are.”

Helping Fantasy Imagine Imagine That

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“The Academy is paranoid about its image.”

Academy Paranoid

Author:Roger Ebert

“There must be a better reason to have a baby than to provide a plot point in a rom-com. Don't you think?”

Thinking Reason Baby Plot

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“Time is what the depressed and panicked lack.”

Author:Roger Ebert

“To die is one thing. How much worse to know that all the life that ever existed on this planet, and all it ever achieved, was to be obliterated?”

Knows Dies One Thing Planets

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“We can't help identifying with the protagonist. It's coded in our movie-going DNA.”

Helping Dna Identifying Protagonists

Author:Roger Ebert

“We don't have a lot of class-conscious filmmaking.”

Actors Class Conscious Movie Filmmaking

Author:Roger Ebert

“We exist to have our wealth moved up the economic chain out of our reach.”

Wealth Economic Moved Chains

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“We think of first love as sweet and valuable, a blessed if hazardous condition.”

Ifs Thinking Firsts Conditions Sweet Blessed Valuable First Love

Author:Roger Ebert

“Who was the real Hitchcock? I interviewed him once and haven't a clue.”

Real Havens Clue Hitchcock

Author:Roger Ebert

“If a movie is really working, you forget for two hours your Social Security number and where your car is parked. You are having a vicarious experience. You are identifying, in one way or another, with the people on the screen.”

People Ifs Way Two Social Hours Forget Numbers Security Car Screens One Way Social Security Identifying Vicarious

Author:Roger Ebert

“There's something depressing about a young couple helplessly in love. Their state is so perfect, it must be doomed. They project such qualities on their lover that only disappointment can follow.”

States Young Perfect Quality Couple Lovers Projects Disappointment Depressing Doomed Young Couples

Author:Roger Ebert

“Why do alcoholics begin down the same hazardous road day after day? They are in search of that elusive window of well-being that opens when you drink your way out of a hangover and aren't yet drunk all over again. The alcoholic's day consists of trying to keep that window open.”

Way Trying Wells Drink Window Drunk Well Being Alcoholics Elusive Hangover

Author:Roger Ebert

“I believe that young people wearing hoods, unless they are very young, can be frightening. What are they hiding? Why don't they want to come out into the light with the rest of us? They may be perfectly nice, but the hoods send an uncertain statement.”

People Want Believe May Light Young I Believe Nice Statements Hiding Frightening Uncertain Hood

Author:Roger Ebert

“I think that probably the - I don't give quotes to studios. They have to get those out of the paper or from television. So they wouldn't have had my quote opening day.”

Thinking Giving Television Paper Studios Opening Opening Day Baseball Opening Day Opening Day Baseball

Author:Roger Ebert

“I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can't say it wasn't interesting. My lifetime's memories are what I have brought home from the trip.”

Thinking States Home Born Memories Interesting Wonder Laughter Grateful Lifetime Love Life I Am Grateful

Book:Life Itself: A Memoir

Source: Life Itself: A Memoir

“I'll tell you, I think that the Internet has provided an enormous boost to film criticism by giving people an opportunity to self publish or to find sites that are friendly.”

People Thinking Giving Self Film Opportunity Internet Criticism Enormous Friendly Site Publish Boost Film Criticism

Author:Roger Ebert

“If a movie isn't a hit right out of the gate, they drop it. Which means that the whole mainstream Hollywood product has been skewed toward violence and vulgar teen comedy.”

Ifs Mean Has Beens Whole Comedy Violence Products Hollywood Teenager Gates Mainstream Vulgar

Author:Roger Ebert

“To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.”

Knows World Trying Mind Long Matter Enough Problem Body Joy Crime Circumstances No Matter What Unhappy Joy To The World

Author:Roger Ebert

“We can now have action movies with two stars where one might be African American and one might be Asian American. One of them doesn't have to be white, and the other one doesn't have to be the ethnic sidekick. We're way over that. And I think it's happening in society, too.”

Thinking Way Two Might Action Stars White Happenings African American Asian Action Movie Asian American Sidekicks

Author:Roger Ebert

“You can have a movie with hardly any cuts, or very few cuts, that is fascinating, you can't take your eyes away from it... Look at some of the long takes in Citizen Kane.”

Looks Long Eye Cutting Citizens Fascinating Citizen Kane

Author:Roger Ebert

“A few actresses have all but set up shop as women of a certain age who attract younger lovers. I think of Susan Sarandon, Cameron Diaz and Isabelle Huppert.”

Thinking Age Certain Lovers Actresses Shops Cameron

Author:Roger Ebert

“A lot of people just go to movies that feed into their preexisting and not so noble needs and desires: They just go to action pictures, and things like that.”

People Needs Action Desire Noble

Author:Roger Ebert

“'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' is without a doubt the best film we are ever likely to see on the subject - unless there is a sequel, which is unlikely, because at the end, the Lincolns are on their way to the theater.”

Way Ends Film Doubt Subjects Theater Vampire Hunters Unlikely Abraham Sequels Best Film Vampire Hunter

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“All but a very few of us are in debt. We exist as entities who borrow money and spend the rest of our lives making interest payments on a debt tally that never seems to budge. Whatever wealth we have, in labor, property or cash, is suctioned to the top.”

Seems Interest Wealth Our Lives Labor Property Debt Cash Entity Payment

Author:Roger Ebert

“All over the web there are some very good critics and it's become for people who are interested. It's become a very good way to get to reviews and involve yourself in discussions.”

People Way Critics Very Good Discussion Reviews Good Way

Author:Roger Ebert

“Because I don't give the studios advanced quotes or an advanced look at my reviews. I think the readers deserve to read my reviews before the studios do.”

Thinking Giving Looks Reader Deserve Studios Reviews

Author:Roger Ebert

“But considering that I walked in expecting no complexity at all, let alone the visual wonderments, "Snow White and the Huntsman" is a considerable experience.”

White Snow Complexity Visuals Expecting Considering Snow White

Author:Roger Ebert

“Clouds do not really look like camels or sailing ships or castles in the sky. They are simply a natural process at work. So too, perhaps, are our lives.”

Looks Process Natural Our Lives Sky Clouds Ships Sailing Castles Camels Sailing Ships Castles In The Sky

Author:Roger Ebert

“From a dramatic viewpoint, there are few professions that grant their members entry into other lives, high among them cops, doctors, clergymen, journalists and prostitutes. Perhaps that explains why they figure in so much television and cinema. Their lives are lived in the midst of human drama.”

Humans Figures Television Drama Members Doctors Profession Journalist Cinema Dramatic Midst Grants Cop Entry Viewpoints Clergymen

Author:Roger Ebert

“Growing up, I missed the whole 'Three Stooges' thing. Either they weren't on the station in my hometown, or we hadn't bought a TV set yet, or they came to town too late for me. I'm pretty sure that at the right age, I would have loved them.”

Whole Age Three Growing Up Growing Tvs Late Towns Too Late Stations Hometown Stooges Three Stooges

Author:Roger Ebert

“Horror fans are a particular breed. They analyze films with such detail and expertise that I am reminded of the Canadian literary critic Northrup Frye, who approached literature with similar archetypal analysis.”

Film Literature Fans Particular Horror Critics Details Analysis Expertise Horror Fans

Author:Roger Ebert

“I remember when a Coke came in a six-ounce bottle, and delicious it was. Now it comes in sizes so big that I question how the human bladder can deal with the intake.”

Humans Bigs Remember Deals Six Size Bottles Delicious Remember When Coke Bladder

Author:Roger Ebert

“I've never found kicks to the groin particularly funny, although recent work in the genre of the buddy movie suggests audience research must prove me wrong.”

Found Audience Prove Research Genre Kicks Buddy Prove Me Wrong

Author:Roger Ebert

“In my reviews, I feel it's good to make it clear that I'm not proposing objective truth, but subjective reactions; a review should reflect the immediate experience.”

Feels Should Clear Reactions Objectives Reviews Subjective Objective Truth

Author:Roger Ebert

“It's a good question, because a movie isn't good or bad based on its politics. It's usually good or bad for other reasons, though you might agree or disagree with its politics.”

Reason Might Agree Disagree Good Questions

Author:Roger Ebert

“It's funny that there was so much disturbance about having a Catholic in the White House with Kennedy, and when we finally get a religion in the White House that's causing a lot of conflicts, and concerns, and disturbances for a lot of people, it's in the Bush Administration.”

People House White Conflict Concern Catholic Administration White House Disturbance

Author:Roger Ebert

“It's not often a thriller keeps me wound up as well as 'Headhunters' did. I knew I was being manipulated and didn't care. It was a pleasure to see how well it was being done.”

Wells Done Care Pleasure Wounds Thrillers Being Done

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“No movie has ever been able to provide a catharsis for the Holocaust, and I suspect none will ever be able to provide one for 9/11. Such subjects overwhelm art.”

Art Able Subjects Suspects Holocaust Catharsis

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“On this ancient and miraculous world, where such beautiful natural and living things have evolved, something has gone wrong when life itself is used as a manufacturing process.”

World Beautiful Used Process Natural Gone Ancient Miraculous Living Things Manufacturing

Author:Roger Ebert

“One difference between film noir and more straightforward crime pictures is that noir is more open to human flaws and likes to embed them in twisty plot lines.”

Humans Film Differences Lines Crime Likes Plot Flaws Straightforward Noir Film Noir Plot Lines

Author:Roger Ebert

“One of the weapons Marvel used in its climb to comic-book dominance was a willingness to invent new characters at a dizzying speed. There are so many Marvel universes, indeed, that some superheroes do not even exist in one another's worlds, preventing gridlock.”

World Book Character Used Universe Weapons Speed Comic Climbs Willingness Comic Book Superhero Preventing Dominance Gridlock

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

“Open-heart surgery is now part of a typical life experience for many people. Folks talk casually about 'having a stent put in,' as if they had their tires rotated.”

People Ifs Heart Folks Life Experience Typical Surgery Tire Open Heart Heart Surgery

Author:Roger Ebert

“Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' is a magnificent science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers.”

Humans Film Answers Fiction Raises Science Fiction Human Life Magnificent Intriguing Prometheus Raises Questions

Author:Roger Ebert

“Sarah Palin lacked the preparation or temperament to be one heartbeat away from the presidency, but what she possessed in abundance was the ability to inflame political passions and energize the John McCain campaign with star quality.”

Political Passion Stars Ability Quality Campaigns Preparation Abundance Possessed Presidency Temperament Heartbeat Mccain Palin

Book:Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

Source: Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition

About the Author

Born: June 18, 1942
Died: April 4, 2013
Known for: Film critic
Quotes: 385

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Popular Topics

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Books & Sources

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary EditionRelated source material

I Hated, Hated, Hated This MovieRelated source material

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2005Related source material

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2007Related source material

Your Movie SucksRelated source material

A Horrible Experience of Unbearable Length: More Movies That SuckRelated source material

Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger EbertRelated source material

Roger Ebert's Four Star Reviews--1967-2007Related source material

Roger Ebert's Video CompanionRelated source material

The Great Movies IVRelated source material

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