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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
This book gets 2 thumbs up!
I miss the pre-internet days…
I can remember catching my first glimpse of Darth Vader on At the Movies, and I always enjoyed listening to these great writers verbally spar over the movies of the week. I never knew the work and talent that went into making it seem so easy, but I’ll always appreciate them for starting a love for movies, and great writing about movies.
I miss the pre-internet days…
I can remember catching my first glimpse of Darth Vader on At the Movies, and I always enjoyed listening to these great writers verbally spar over the movies of the week. I never knew the work and talent that went into making it seem so easy, but I’ll always appreciate them for starting a love for movies, and great writing about movies.
Easily one of the best books I read all year, and a must-own for anyone who loves movies. Singer’s book is rigorously researched and consistently insightful as it not only chronicles Siskel and Ebert’s rise, but their lasting impact on both cinema and film criticism. Far from a hagiography, it paints the two men as incredibly human, and zeroes in on the unique spark that made them a success. Even if you’ve never seen a single episode of Siskel & Ebert (or the previous iterations of their show), you’ll still be wrapped up in a story of two competitors who made each other better.
I have so many great memories of watching Siskel and Ebert growing up. This was a wonderful tribute to them.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
A breezy and entertaining chronicle of America's most famous pair of film critics, from their awkward debut on public television through their run as a shockingly high-rated syndicated series, cut tragically short. The brilliantly titled "Opposable Thumbs" is great reading when it focuses on the yin and yang of Siskel & Ebert's personas and approach to film criticism. It's less interesting when it's about contracts and producers, but, in fairness, that's all part of the story.
I never actually watched Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert when they were on the air. My own initiation into cinephilia bloomed shortly after Siskel's passing in 1999. I became a fan of Ebert's writing, and ultimately became a loyal viewer of the final two incarnations of the TV show, with Michael Phillips/A.O. Scott and Christy Lemire/Iganatiy Vishnevetsky, which were both quite good (Matt Singer appeared on the latter). "Opposable Thumbs" made me long for an era when two dweeby yet charismatic, eloquent people could become household names while evangelizing cinema. I'm not sure if the show was as widely influential as Singer says it is, but it was something truly special. Just watch any clip on YouTube.
I never actually watched Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert when they were on the air. My own initiation into cinephilia bloomed shortly after Siskel's passing in 1999. I became a fan of Ebert's writing, and ultimately became a loyal viewer of the final two incarnations of the TV show, with Michael Phillips/A.O. Scott and Christy Lemire/Iganatiy Vishnevetsky, which were both quite good (Matt Singer appeared on the latter). "Opposable Thumbs" made me long for an era when two dweeby yet charismatic, eloquent people could become household names while evangelizing cinema. I'm not sure if the show was as widely influential as Singer says it is, but it was something truly special. Just watch any clip on YouTube.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Like the lives of the two men profiled here, whose work meant so much to me for such a significant portion of my life, I didn’t want this story to end.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
informative
fast-paced