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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I totally missed this book but saw that it was recommended by Glen Weldon in NPR's annual Books We Love for the year. I really, really enjoyed it a lot. No deep gossip, no dark stories, just the history of two guys who were extremely competitive with each other but deeply respectful of the other's work and who made a living doing something they really loved. Siskel and Ebert's history is also a history of film criticism in general which was one of the most interesting parts of this book. It is pretty crazy to remember that when their show first started, it was one of the only ways you could see clips of movies ahead of time. If you wanted to see trailers, you had to actually go to the movies! Outrageous! And I just love that the subliminal message of their show was that art truly is subjective, that there's no singular correct opinion on any movie.
Singer said that it felt weird to write a book about Siskel and Ebert without any film criticism so in an appendix, he summarizes the reviews of 25 movies that they awarded with two thumbs up that have largely been forgotten over the course of time (including 14-year-old Reese Witherspoon's film debut in the absolutely lovely Man in the Moon). I thought that was a pretty sweet way to end the book, and I even wrote a few down to look for.
Singer said that it felt weird to write a book about Siskel and Ebert without any film criticism so in an appendix, he summarizes the reviews of 25 movies that they awarded with two thumbs up that have largely been forgotten over the course of time (including 14-year-old Reese Witherspoon's film debut in the absolutely lovely Man in the Moon). I thought that was a pretty sweet way to end the book, and I even wrote a few down to look for.
Reading 2023
Book 215: Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer
Jumped right on this book for my #nonfictionnovember reading.
Synopsis: In Opposable Thumbs , award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he’d kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day.
Review: Some may know of my love of Roger Ebert (Amy Baker) and my desire to be like him when I grow up. So when this book came across my radar, it was preordered immediately. I listened to this on audio. The behind the scenes of how their show started, and how Siskel and Ebert became friends after a while was so cool to me. Can you tell I am geeking out? Enjoyed this book, RIP Siskel and Ebert. My rating 4⭐️.
Book 215: Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer
Jumped right on this book for my #nonfictionnovember reading.
Synopsis: In Opposable Thumbs , award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he’d kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day.
Review: Some may know of my love of Roger Ebert (Amy Baker) and my desire to be like him when I grow up. So when this book came across my radar, it was preordered immediately. I listened to this on audio. The behind the scenes of how their show started, and how Siskel and Ebert became friends after a while was so cool to me. Can you tell I am geeking out? Enjoyed this book, RIP Siskel and Ebert. My rating 4⭐️.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Long before imdb or Rotten Tomatoes, there was Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, THE gold standard for movie criticism. Starting in a local Chicago PBS station, their movie review show grew to be one of the most watched programs about movies. Siskel & Ebert were passionate about movies, opinionated and stubborn, their combative and competitive relationship made for great television. There were other movie review shows that tried to duplicate the style of Siskel & Ebert: At The Movies, but none ever could replicate their chemistry.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Author was a little repetitive and put to much of themselves in the book. It also should have ended when Siskel died. The book was fun though for anyone who was a fan of them or enjoys film criticism.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
emotional
informative
medium-paced
This was an enjoyable enough read with a few insights even long time fans might be unaware of.
informative
medium-paced