What did Gene and Roger talk about?
And it would change the way people in media talk—or at least, how they try to talk. And not just about film, but about sports, politics, television, fashion, or even history.
Who was the actor who played Gene and Roger?
Burt Reynolds, who starred in several poorly reviewed movies, called Gene and Roger “the Bruise Brothers.”. Eddie Murphy once noted that a two-thumbs-down verdict could kill a film. You could gripe about Siskel and Ebert’s decisions—and they made some truly strange calls over the years.
Why did Gene and Roger watch movies?
Mostly, he watched Gene and Roger to learn about film. They talked about cinematography. And the pleasure of a good performance. About old movies, and why they’re so important to understanding new movies. And they did so in a way that didn’t make you feel intimidated or uneducated about film. Instead, Gene and Roger brought the movie conversation out of the theater lobby and into your home—and invited you to listen along.
Why did Brian Raftery watch Gene and Roger?
Brian Raftery was one of them: Every Sunday, he’d rush home to catch the bald guy and the big guy. Mostly, he watched Gene and Roger to learn about film. They talked about cinematography. And the pleasure of a good performance. About old movies, and why they’re so important to understanding new movies.
When did Gene Siskel die?
It’s been more than two decades since Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert reviewed a movie together. Gene Siskel died in 1999; Roger Ebert passed away in 2013.
Who taught Generation to argue?
How Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert Taught a Generation to Argue. In this excerpt from “I Must Destroy Him,” the first episode of The Ringer’s new narrative podcast series ‘Gene and Roger,’ host Brian Raftery explains how two megastar movie critics created media as we know it. Every week, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert —movie critics ...
Did Siskel and Ebert make strange decisions?
You could gripe about Siskel and Ebert’s decisions—and they made some truly strange calls over the years. Like when they both gave Reservoir Dogs a thumbs-down. Yet even if you disagreed with them about a movie, you always wanted to know why they voted the way they did. They could boil down big observations into just a few quick, cutting sentences. And while they got heated at times, they were never mean to each other. Most importantly: They were able to sound smart without ever coming off as show-offy.
How did Siskel and Ebert communicate their feelings about a film?
One way Siskel and Ebert communicated their feelings about a film was through their “Thumbs up/Thumbs down” rating scale , which they trademarked during their dual rise toward cultural-icon status. Raftery says when Siskel and Ebert launched the gimmick, it was “controversial,” because other critics and filmmakers didn’t appreciate the reduction of painstakingly crafted artwork into a simple binary. However, as Raftery points out, Siskel and Ebert’s expanded, expert insights were always available in their talks on TV, as well as in their newspaper columns.
Why does Raftery say they are of a younger generation?
Raftery presumes they’re of a more junior generation because they seem to be discovering canonical films like The Goonies for the first time. “There’s a certain hysteria and love for discovering ’80s and ’90s movies … that’s all over that thread,” Raftery says, referring to r/movies.
What did Raftery learn from Siskel and Ebert?
He says the pair taught him “not just how to think about movies, but how to talk with others about things you love or things you hate without becoming a complete jerk about it.”
Why did Siskel and Ebert die?
Siskel died in 1999, at the age of 53, due to complications from brain cancer. Ebert succumbed to various cancers at the age of 70 in 2013. But on internet forums like the Reddit page r/movies, users frequently embed Siskel and Ebert video clips that have made their way onto YouTube. (Raftery reports that during pandemic lockdowns, the number of Siskel and Ebert episode uploads to YouTube exploded.) Some Reddit users who appear to be Millennial- or Gen Z-aged cite Siskel and Ebert analysis in their own critiques while warring with other commenters.
Who followed Siskel and Ebert to their graves?
The discord literally followed Siskel and Ebert to their graves.
What did Ebert say about the movie "The Bottom of the Barrel"?
Ebert was beside himself. “This movie is the bottom of the barrel,” he said, waving his arms in disgust. “This movie is absolutely formula, it is predictable, it is uninspired, and it is not exciting.”
