Exploring Roger Ebert#39;s Movie Taste: Which Films He Would Have Loved and Hated
As a renowned film critic and cultural influencer, Roger Ebert had a discerning eye for evaluating films across various genres and eras. The question remains: among the movies released since his passing, which films would have elicited a warm sigh of satisfaction or a disappointed shake of the head? This article delves into the analysis, focusing particularly on the reception of his favorite genre and his skepticism towards another.
Defining Roger Ebert’s Criticship: A Recap
Roger Ebert defined his decade-long career as a film critic with an unapologetic love for narrative storytelling and a knack for demystifying complex and innovative films. His reviews were celebrated for their clarity, accessibility, and passion for cinema. Both as a television personality and in print, Ebert was known for championing the arts and humanities in film, often weighing the emotional impact of a film’s message and the capacity of its storytelling to move its audience.
Analyzing Roger Ebert’s Admiration: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
When considering the films Roger Ebert might have loved, one couldn’t overlook the 2017 box office sensation, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film starred Frances McDormand, providing a powerful and nuanced portrayal of a mother grieving her daughter’s unsolved murder. The film’s critique of small-town prejudices and its examination of justice through the lens of adolescence and family dynamics might have resonated deeply with Ebert.
Three Billboards also delivered on the emotional front, often a key factor in Ebert’s reviews. He once said, 'Every great film must do something we haven’t seen before, must have a revelation, or strain the bow so forcefully that the target audience start shooting past the line at which they areto be offended.' Three Billboards certainly disrupted the status quo by presenting a complex exploration of grief, justice, and moral ambiguity, makers it a likely candidate for Ebert’s admiration.
Ebert’s Skepticism Towards Superhero Genre: A Critical View
One genre that likely won’t feature among those films Roger Ebert would have loved is the superhero movies based on DC Comics characters. While these films have become a dominant force in the film industry, Ebert’s success and passion often lay in his ability to uncover, champion, and critique critically acclaimed dramas, independent films, and indie releases.
Ebert’s disdain for the superhero genre was not baseless. For him, such films often emphasized spectacle and blockbuster elements over narrative depth and emotional complexity. In an interview, he once stated, 'In the movie world, where movies are not art anymore, but an industry, the reliance on shyness as a marketing strategy is beginning to pale.#39; For Ebert, the superhero genre epitomized this shift, emphasizing commercialism over artistry and narrative sophistication.
One of the most criticized aspects of superhero films, according to Ebert’s lens, is the lack of genuine human connection. Characters in superhero movies often adhere to specific archetypes, leaving little room for complex narrative development. He believed that the medium of film should reach beyond these typical narratives to explore more meaningful human stories.
Conclusion: A Film Lover’s Perspective
Based on the insights into Roger Ebert’s critical approach and personal preferences, it is evident that Ebert would have championed films that offered a profound emotional experience, insightful storytelling, and complex character arcs. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri fits this description perfectly, while superhero films based on DC Comics characters likely wouldn’t have garnered much of his attention. Ebert’s legacy as a film critic is built on his ability to dissect and evaluate films based on their artistic merit and emotional impact, making his potential reactions to newly-released films a fascinating exploration of his critical perspective.