Pulitzer Prizer winner Ebert died earlier today at the age of 70 Probably the best known movie critic in the United States, Roger Ebert passed away on Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, following a decade-long battle against cancer. Ebert, who was 70, had announced the recurrence of his illness in a tweet two days ago. (Pictured above: An Ebert closeup, as found on his Twitter account.) The renowned critic was best known alongside Gene Siskel for their "two thumbs up" routine, which was watched by millions on the nationally syndicated television show At the Movies (previously known as Sneak Previews and later as Siskel & Ebert [and the movies]). But populism or no, Ebert was a well-regarded and quite influential movie pundit. He began writing for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967; eight years later, he became the very first film reviewer to take home a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. (That particular Pulitzer branch had been set up in...
- 4/4/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
On Oct. 16 I published a review of "Tru Loved" in which, at the end, I noted that I stopped watching after eight minutes. I also published a blog entry, "Don't read me first!" discussing that decision and reporting that it horrified my editor, who wondered if my action was immoral. The entry has so far drawn almost 500 comments. I have read them all. I have arrived at some conclusions.
How it happened in the first place. I began viewing the movie on a DVD and taking notes. At what turned out to be the eight-minute mark, I paused the disc, looked at my notes so far, and thought, "There's my review right there." The movie had left me not wanting to see more.
Why I waited until the end of the review to reveal I had stopped after eight minutes. The review reproduced my thought process while arriving at my decision.
How it happened in the first place. I began viewing the movie on a DVD and taking notes. At what turned out to be the eight-minute mark, I paused the disc, looked at my notes so far, and thought, "There's my review right there." The movie had left me not wanting to see more.
Why I waited until the end of the review to reveal I had stopped after eight minutes. The review reproduced my thought process while arriving at my decision.
- 10/22/2008
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
By Neil Pedley
There's plenty to be pleased about this week as we get to spend time with both current and future presidents as part of an Ellen Burstyn double bill. There's also -- whisper it -- a movie based on a video game that might actually be worth seeing. Not to mention enough titular wordplay to make Richard Lederer's head spin. It's all just pun and games though, right?
"The Elephant King"
Built on the old adage that getting lost is the best way to find oneself, Seth Grossman's debut feature follows the travels of Oliver (Tate Ellington), a suicidal writer who's dispatched by Ellen Burstyn's frantic matriarch to the seedy bar scene of Thailand to bring back his brother Jake (Jonno Roberts) to face his considerable debts in the U.S. Once abroad, Oliver finds that he may be at odds with his brother, but...
There's plenty to be pleased about this week as we get to spend time with both current and future presidents as part of an Ellen Burstyn double bill. There's also -- whisper it -- a movie based on a video game that might actually be worth seeing. Not to mention enough titular wordplay to make Richard Lederer's head spin. It's all just pun and games though, right?
"The Elephant King"
Built on the old adage that getting lost is the best way to find oneself, Seth Grossman's debut feature follows the travels of Oliver (Tate Ellington), a suicidal writer who's dispatched by Ellen Burstyn's frantic matriarch to the seedy bar scene of Thailand to bring back his brother Jake (Jonno Roberts) to face his considerable debts in the U.S. Once abroad, Oliver finds that he may be at odds with his brother, but...
- 10/13/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
New York -- Here! Films has acquired North American rights to Outfest's closing-night film, "Tru Loved."
Stewart Wade's romantic comedy stars Najarra Townsend as Tru, a new high school student with gay mothers who is mistakenly presumed to be lesbian. A date with the school's closeted quarterback and her quest to form a gay-straight alliance organization further complicates her new life in a conservative town.
Bruce Vilanch, Nichelle Nichols, Jasmine Guy, Alexandra Paul ("Baywatch"), Cynda Williams, Jane Lynch, Jake Abel ("The Lovely Bones"), Alec Mapa ("Ugly Betty") and Matthew Thompson ("Drake and Josh") round out the cast.
The film's producer, Brown Bag Productions' Antonio Brown, formed alliances with Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; and other groups to spread word of mouth about the project.
"Loved" played at the L.A.-based film fest Monday. It will be released by Here! sister company Regent Releasing in select U.S. theaters this fall.
Stewart Wade's romantic comedy stars Najarra Townsend as Tru, a new high school student with gay mothers who is mistakenly presumed to be lesbian. A date with the school's closeted quarterback and her quest to form a gay-straight alliance organization further complicates her new life in a conservative town.
Bruce Vilanch, Nichelle Nichols, Jasmine Guy, Alexandra Paul ("Baywatch"), Cynda Williams, Jane Lynch, Jake Abel ("The Lovely Bones"), Alec Mapa ("Ugly Betty") and Matthew Thompson ("Drake and Josh") round out the cast.
The film's producer, Brown Bag Productions' Antonio Brown, formed alliances with Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; and other groups to spread word of mouth about the project.
"Loved" played at the L.A.-based film fest Monday. It will be released by Here! sister company Regent Releasing in select U.S. theaters this fall.
- 7/22/2008
- by By Gregg Goldstein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The 20th annual NewFest -- the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival -- will open with Stewart Wade's romantic comedy "Tru Loved" and close with Tom Gustafson's fantasy film "Were the World Mine".
The fest also introduces the NewDraft Screenplay Competition & Reading Series, which selects two winning scripts for public readings this year and next year. Three previously staged readings at the fest, including the script for "Mine", went on to be produced features.
The event also introduces the John Outcalt NewFest Lounge inside the HK Lounge, which filmmakers and audiences can visit between screenings. NewFest runs June 5-15 in Manhattan.
The fest also introduces the NewDraft Screenplay Competition & Reading Series, which selects two winning scripts for public readings this year and next year. Three previously staged readings at the fest, including the script for "Mine", went on to be produced features.
The event also introduces the John Outcalt NewFest Lounge inside the HK Lounge, which filmmakers and audiences can visit between screenings. NewFest runs June 5-15 in Manhattan.
NEW YORK -- The 40-Year-Old-Virgin co-star Jane Lynch and comedy writer Bruce Vilanch have joined the ensemble cast of the gay-themed coming-of-age indie Tru Loved.
The film centers on Tru (Najarra Townsend), the straight daughter of a lesbian couple (Alexandra Paul, Cynda Williams) who faces challenges when her family moves from San Francisco to a conservative Southern California suburb. Openly lesbian actress Lynch will play Ms. Maple, one of Tru's teachers and the girlfriend of Tru's favorite teacher (Alec Mapa). Openly gay comedian Vilanch will play Daniel, the adopted father of Tru's love interest (Jake Abel).
Jasmine Guy, Matthew Thompson, Marcia Wallace (The Simpsons) and Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek) round out the cast of writer-director Stewart Wade's comedy-drama. The film is produced by Wade, Antonio Brown and David Avallone. Principal photography began this month and wraps Aug. 2.
Lynch's credits include Best in Show, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Rocker. Vilanch, the subject of documentary Get Bruce, starred on Broadway in Hairspray.
Wade recently wrote and directed Film and Music Entertainment's gay-themed Coffee Date, starring Wilson Cruz, Jonathan Silverman, Sally Kirkland and Deborah Gibson.
The film centers on Tru (Najarra Townsend), the straight daughter of a lesbian couple (Alexandra Paul, Cynda Williams) who faces challenges when her family moves from San Francisco to a conservative Southern California suburb. Openly lesbian actress Lynch will play Ms. Maple, one of Tru's teachers and the girlfriend of Tru's favorite teacher (Alec Mapa). Openly gay comedian Vilanch will play Daniel, the adopted father of Tru's love interest (Jake Abel).
Jasmine Guy, Matthew Thompson, Marcia Wallace (The Simpsons) and Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek) round out the cast of writer-director Stewart Wade's comedy-drama. The film is produced by Wade, Antonio Brown and David Avallone. Principal photography began this month and wraps Aug. 2.
Lynch's credits include Best in Show, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Rocker. Vilanch, the subject of documentary Get Bruce, starred on Broadway in Hairspray.
Wade recently wrote and directed Film and Music Entertainment's gay-themed Coffee Date, starring Wilson Cruz, Jonathan Silverman, Sally Kirkland and Deborah Gibson.
- 7/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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