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Roger Ebert = awesome

Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
CHICAGO (AP) - Film critic Roger Ebert on Thursday confirmed that a fellow critic yelled at him and whacked him on the knee with a program during a movie screening at the Toronto Film Festival last weekend, but said the incident was "blown out of proportion."

"It has been blown out of proportion. It is of little interest," Ebert said in a column posted Thursday on the Web site of the Chicago Sun-Times, where he has been a critic since 1967.

Ebert, who has battled cancer in recent years and was left unable to speak, did not name the other critic involved in the incident. But he said an account published in the New York Daily News that named the other man as rival New York Post movie critic Lou Lumenick was "truthful."

Lumenick did not return an e-mail from The Associated Press after business hours on Thursday.

Saturday's incident began, Ebert said, when he could not see subtitles for the film "Slumlord Millionaire" because the man sitting in front of him was leaning into the aisle.

"In my medical condition I cannot speak, I tapped him lightly on the shoulder, and gestured him to move over a little. He said, 'Don't touch me!' and remained in position. I tapped him lightly again. 'I said - don't touch me!' He leaned further into the aisle, as if making a point of it. I tapped him a third time, and he jumped up and whacked me on the knee with whatever it was," Ebert said.

Ebert wrote that he tapped the man a fourth time, "just to show I wasn't intimidated." The man was later moved to another seat.

"This whole matter was embarrassing, because it drew attention to me and invited pity, which makes me cringe," said Ebert, former host of the syndicated show "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper."

While Ebert said he thought the man was wrong for blocking his sight line, the Pulitzer Prize winner said he felt sorry for him.

"He had no idea who was behind him when he smacked me," Ebert wrote. "Now it looked like he was picking on poor me. I have had my problems, but I promise you I am plenty hearty enough to withstand a smack, and quite happy, after the smack, to tap him again."
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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080912/D934SCJ80.html
 
I've always liked Ebert, even though I haven't always agreed with his reviews. He just seems like a no-nonsense, take no shit kind of guy.

KT
 
I didn't know he couldn't talk... hmmm.
So his only way of communicating is typing? Is that how he does everything now?
 
Originally posted by: destrekor
I didn't know he couldn't talk... hmmm.
So his only way of communicating is typing? Is that how he does everything now?
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Yes. And his wife is pretty awesome (I gather from interviews and such) and helps him out with everything.
 
Originally posted by: Krazy4Real
Haha. His attitude is pretty awesome. I respect that.
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A lot of people with so-called disabilities (ie fat slobs who need to wheel themselves around in scooters at Walmart) could learn from him.
 
If someone sitting behind me at the movies poked me 4 times in the back I'd probably do worse than smack their knee. Maybe not if they looked particularly old and cancerous though.
 
Originally posted by: jonks
If someone sitting behind me at the movies poked me 4 times in the back I'd probably do worse than smack their knee. Maybe not if they looked particularly old and cancerous though.
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i would hope that after the first or second tap you would realize you were blocking their view and move. otherwise youre as big a jackoff as this guy
 
Originally posted by: jonks
If someone sitting behind me at the movies poked me 4 times in the back I'd probably do worse than smack their knee. Maybe not if they looked particularly old and cancerous though.
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A fellow critic though? I mean, they rope off special sections of the theater and put all the critics there, so it's not like there's any mystery that the person tapping you is a professional, on the job, reviewing the film just like you. Intentionally leaning farther into the aisle to block their vision is petty and ridiculous. What's Ebert supposed to do, calmly get up, walk around the seat and sit in the man's lap?

That dude was retarded. Not just because he whacked someone, cause who honestly cares... but he was intentionally an asshole to a fellow critic. Totally unprofessional.
 
On a side note, The "At the Movies" tv show is now a big pile of shit. Roper isn't on the show anymore. It has 5 critics w/ ADD interrupting each other. I couldn't even watch a whole show.
 
Originally posted by: jonks
If someone sitting behind me at the movies poked me 4 times in the back I'd probably do worse than smack their knee. Maybe not if they looked particularly old and cancerous though.
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e-peen ++
 
Originally posted by: Ns1
Originally posted by: waffleandsyrup
uhh robert != roger

😉
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jesus 14 posts until that came up

//edit

WWYBYWB?
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No ban, just an idiotic mistake whilst updating my email address... Need to pm tbtb for some help now

---

Then please STOP POSTING, and PM the Mod account while you still can.

YGPM

Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator
 
Originally posted by: CPA
Originally posted by: Krazy4Real
Haha. His attitude is pretty awesome. I respect that.
Click to expand...

A lot of people with so-called disabilities (ie fat slobs who need to wheel themselves around in scooters at Walmart) could learn from him.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: CPA
Originally posted by: Krazy4Real
Haha. His attitude is pretty awesome. I respect that.
Click to expand...

A lot of people with so-called disabilities (ie fat slobs who need to wheel themselves around in scooters at Walmart) could learn from him.
Click to expand...

I lol'ed
 
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: jonks
If someone sitting behind me at the movies poked me 4 times in the back I'd probably do worse than smack their knee. Maybe not if they looked particularly old and cancerous though.
Click to expand...

i would hope that after the first or second tap you would realize you were blocking their view and move. otherwise youre as big a jackoff as this guy
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Well I'd turn around the first time and he'd be motioning with his hand, otherwise mute. I'd have no idea what he wanted and I'd go back to watching the movie. He'd then tap me again, still silent, and gesticulate more wildly. I'd probably think he was having a seizure, maybe I'd call for help. But now I'm missing the movie and turn back and ignore him. Third tap, I'm losing patience with the mime and start checking for sharp objects in my pockets to stab him with. Fourth tap, I grab the offending finger and crunch it ala 3 O'Clock High. See if I can't yank a scream out of the old man.
 
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