Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert Paperback – May 15, 2008

Roger Ebert was one of the greatest film critics of all time and a shining example of why movies were an art. When he passed away over two years ago, it was a huge loss in the film community and a devastating blow to the art of film criticism. But it was not until I read "Awake in the Dark" that I realized just how important Ebert truly was to not only movies or filmmakers, but to moviegoers in general. When we think of Ebert, we think of those insightful, hugely entertaining reviews that he did with his friends Gene Siskel and Richard Roeper.Yet Ebert's legacy isn't just confined to reviews; as "Awake in the Dark" shows, he was also a passionate defender of inventive filmmakers and courageous actors, a champion of the independent cinema, a friend of many respectable critics who influenced his career and had the backs of directors with disparate styles, and a virulent detractor of studios and executives that dare thumb their fat, salty thumbs in a director's eye, rather it was through colorization, executive meddling and a ridiculous rating system that gives X for sex but an R for a man's head being blown off."Awake in the Dark" does not collect all of Ebert's reviews, essays and columns; to do so would require three-to-five long books. Instead, "Awake" is compilation of some of Ebert's best work, making it a terrific introduction for those pondering the critic's importance in cinema. When you read Ebert's words, you are in the midst of a maestro writer who had an intense passion and love for movies. "Awake" is divided into seven parts - the first part are a selective choice of interviews Ebert did with various actors and filmmakers. The second-to-fifth parts covers his reviews of documentaries, certain foreign films, underrated/overlooked movies and all the movies he named as best picture of their respective years (although Ebert admits, in the case of the latter, that he has recanted some of his opinions). The seventh and final part deals with Ebert (along with Richard Corliss and Andrew Sarris) talking about the importance of film criticism and why it's starting to lose favor in the face of "teen critics" and the rise of television.It's the sixth part, however, that demonstrates Ebert's superlative writing, extraordinary film knowledge and his gift in engaging readers while providing them food for thought. The sixth part is entirely composed of essays, which include his thoughts on the legacy of "Star Wars", a loving tribute to John Cassavetes, a moving memoriam to the late Pauline Kael, his picks for the ten most influential films of the century, a defense of black-and-white movies against the insidious colorization process and, most of all, his argument about the decline of celluloid against the digital revolution, an argument that seems depressingly prophetic now that celluloid is slowly dying and on the verge of being permanently replaced.I didn't always agree with Ebert, but there was no denying his infinite love for movies. Despite his tragic passing, Ebert's work and his legacy continues to live on. "Awake in the Dark" remains an indispensable account of a man who lived his life at his fullest by showing why cinema was the greatest. Anyone who never cared about Ebert's work should buy this book. It will make you realize why film criticism mattered and why movies still matter.

Roger Ebert was not responsible for expanding my film horizons; student nights at a theater during college was where I discovered that movies could be more than a diverting pastime. Roger helped me understand the difference between watching a movie and actually seeing it. I'm sure that's true for many people, and although his writing led me to other great films and writers that gave me an even wider appreciation, it's still Roger that I enjoy reading the most. He never comes off as a critic in love with his prose, and always uses clear, unambiguous terms to get his points across. I don't always agree with his assessments, but even when I'm on the other side of the fence it's easy to imagine having a friendly argument with him, and he's often changed my mind about films and directors. It's a great place to start if you're just getting into a deeper dive into film beyond the latest blockbuster.There's a lot here; movie reviews of course, but it is a also a selection of his writing on topics relating to film, criticism, the movie business, and lots more. One caveat; after you've read this you might have to carve out some funds for all the movies you'll want to see.

You know, there's a very good reason Roger Ebert won a Pulitzer. The man is an amazing writer. If you enjoy the pure pleasure of reading, and have a passion for the movies, you would be hard-pressed to find a better book than this to read.The book is mostly a collection of writings by Ebert over the last several decades. There's some interviews with famous film folk, a collection of essays on subjects such as colorization, digital vs film, the need for a viable "adults only" rating, a few movie reviews, a discussion on the past, present and future of film review, and, most importantly, a serious love of the movies that comes through on every page.I confess I am somewhat biased. Until I began reading Roger Ebert's fine website, I'd never heard of films such as  M - Criterion Collection (Special Edition) , Nosferatu , The Third Man - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Edition) , or  The Grapes of Wrath  (I knew about the novel, of course). I'd also never had any real interst in, or appreciation for, movies such as  Dark City (New Line Platinum Series) , "The Bride of Frankenstein",  Citizen Kane , or  The Adventures of Robin Hood (Two-Disc Special Edition) .Fool that I was.Now thanks largely to Roger Ebert I've began to really develop a love and passion for movies in ways I never thought that I would. Just looking over my recent purchases on Amazon, I see things like  Babette's Feast , Russian Ark: The Masterworks Edition , All About Eve , All Quiet on the Western Front (Universal Cinema Classics), the "Godfather" films, and many others. Roger Ebert really opened my eyes to the glory of film, and helped me to understand why something like "Sunrise", is a glorious movie and something like "White Chicks" is not (hint: the abscence of anyone named Wayans helps).I cannot recommend this book enough. If you like movies, buy it. If you like reading good writing, buy it. If you even think you might like this book, buy it! You'll be doing yourself a favor.

Good and enjoyable