Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert (University Of Chicago Press, 2006)

Roger Ebert has been writing film reviews for the __Chicago Sun-Times__ for nearly forty years. And during those four decades, his wide knowledge, keen judgment, prodigious energy, and sharp sense of humor have made him America’s most celebrated film critic. He was the first such critic to win a Pulitzer Prize—one of just three film critics ever to receive that honor—and the only one to have a star dedicated to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His groundbreaking hit TV show, __At the Movies__, meanwhile, has made “two thumbs up” one of the most coveted hallmarks in the entire industry. No critic alive has reviewed more movies than Roger Ebert, and yet his essential writings have never been collected in a single volume—until now. With __Awake in the Dark__, both fans and film buffs can finally bask in the best of Ebert’s work. The reviews, interviews, and essays collected here present a picture of this indispensable critic’s numerous contributions to the cinema and cinephilia. From __The Godfather__ to __GoodFellas__, from __Cries and Whispers__ to __Crash__, the reviews in __Awake in the Dark__ span some of the most exceptional periods in film history, from the dramatic rise of rebel Hollywood and the heyday of the auteur, to the triumph of blockbuster films such as __Star Wars__ and __Raiders of the Lost Ark__, to the indie revolution that is still with us today. The extraordinary interviews gathered in __Awake in the Dark__ capture Ebert engaging not only some of the most influential directors of our time—Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Robert Altman, Werner Herzog, and Ingmar Bergman—but also some of the silver screen’s most respected and dynamic personalities, including actors as diverse as Robert Mitchum, James Stewart, Warren Beatty, and Meryl Streep. Ebert’s remarkable essays play a significant part in __Awake in the Dark__ as well. The book contains some of Ebert’s most admired pieces, among them a moving appreciation of John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to the virtues of black-and-white films. If Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris were godmother and godfather to the movie generation, then Ebert is its voice from within—a writer whose exceptional intelligence and daily bursts of insight and enthusiasm have shaped the way we think about the movies. __Awake in the Dark__, therefore, will be a treasure trove not just for fans of this seminal critic, but for anyone desiring a fascinating and compulsively readable chronicle of film since the late 1960s. With This Book, Both Fans And Film Buffs Can Finally Bask In The Best Of Ebert's Work. The Reviews, Interviews, And Essays Collected Here Present A Picture Of This Critic's Numerous Contributions To The Cinema And Cinephilia. From The Godfather To Goodfellas, From Cries And Whispers To Crash, The Reviews In Awake In The Dark Span Some Of The Most Exceptional Periods In Film History, From The Dramatic Rise Of Rebel Hollywood And The Heyday Of The Auteur, To The Triumph Of Blockbuster Films Such As Star Wars And Raiders Of The Lost Ark, To The Indie Revolution That Is Still With Us Today. The Interviews Gathered In This Book Capture Ebert Engaging Not Only Some Of The Most Influential Directors -- Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Robert Altman, Werner Herzog, And Ingmar Bergman -- But Also Some Of The Silver Screen's Most Respected And Dynamic Personalities, Including Actors As Diverse As Robert Mitchum, James Stewart, Warren Beatty, And Meryl Streep. Ebert's Essays Play A Significant Part In Awake In The Dark As Well. The Book Contains Some Of Ebert's Most Admired Pieces, Among Them An Appreciation Of John Cassavetes And A Tribute To The Virtues Of Black-and-white Films. Prologue: Death Of A Dream Palace -- Review Of La Dolce Vita -- Interviews And Profiles. Warren Beatty -- James Stewart -- Robert Mitchum -- Mitch And Jimmy: Some Thoughts -- Lee Marvin -- Ingmar Bergman -- Martin Scorsese And Paul Schrader -- Robert Altman -- Werner Herzog -- Meryl Streep -- Woody Allen -- Spike Lee -- Tom Hanks -- Errol Morris -- Steven Spielberg -- The Best. Bonnie And Clyde -- The Battle Of Algiers -- Z -- Five Easy Pieces -- The Last Picture Show -- The Godfather -- Cries And Whispers -- Scenes From A Marriage -- Nashville -- Small Change -- Women -- An Unmarried Woman -- Apocalypse Now -- The Black Stallion -- My Dinner With Andre -- Sophie's Choice -- The Right Stuff -- Amadeus -- The Color Purple -- Platoon -- House Of Games -- Mississippi Burning -- Do The Right Thing -- Goodfellas -- Jfk -- Malcolm X -- Schindler's List -- Hoop Dreams -- Leaving Las Vegas -- Fargo -- Eve's Bayou -- Dark City -- Being John Malkovich -- Almost Famous -- Monster's Ball --^ Minority Report -- Monster -- Million Dollar Baby -- Crash -- Foreign Films. Tokyo Story -- The Music Room -- Au Hasard Balthazar -- Belle De Jour -- The Wild Child -- Claire's Knee -- Last Tango In Paris -- Fellini's Roma -- Stroszek -- The Marriage Of Maria Braun -- Wings Of Desire -- Raise The Red Lantern -- The Scent Of Green Papaya -- Spirited Away -- City Of God -- Documentaries. Woodstock -- Harlan County, U.s.a -- Gates Of Heaven -- Say Amen, Somebody -- The Up Movies -- 28 Up -- 35 Up -- 42 Up -- Shoah -- Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam -- Crumb -- Heidi Fleiss, Hollywood Madam -- Microcosmos -- Overlooked And Underrated. Thieves Like Us -- Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia -- Saint Jack -- El Norte -- To Live And Die In L.a -- Trouble In Mind -- Housekeeping -- The Rapture -- A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries -- The Saddest Music In The World -- Essays And Think Pieces. That's The Way It Is: The Color Purple And The Oscars -- Legacy Of Star Wars --^ John Cassavetes: An Appreciation -- Why I Love Black And White -- The Case For An A Rating -- Well, Are Movies Better Than Ever -- A Pulitzer For The Movies -- Celluloid Vs. Digital: The War For The Soul Of The Cinema -- The Most Influential Films Of The Century -- In Memoriam: Pauline Kael -- On Film Criticism. Twenty-five Years In The Dark -- Symposium From Film Comment -- All Thumbs, Or, Is There A Future For Film Criticism? -- All Stars, Or, Is There A Cure For Criticism Of Film Criticism? -- Then Again -- Auteurism Is Alive And Well And Living In Argentina -- A Memo To Myself And Certain Other Film Critics -- Epilogue: Thoughts On The Centennial Of Cinema -- Coda: On The Meaning Of Life And Movies -- Appendix: 10 Best Lists, 1967--2005. Foreword By David Bordwell. Includes Index. Roger Ebert has been writing film reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times for nearly forty years. And during those four decades, his wide knowledge, keen judgment, prodigious energy, and sharp sense of humor have made him America’s most celebrated film critic. He was the first such critic to win a Pulitzer Prize—one of just three film critics ever to receive that honor—and the only one to have a star dedicated to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His groundbreaking hit TV show, At the Movies , meanwhile, has made “two thumbs up” one of the most coveted hallmarks in the entire industry. No critic alive has reviewed more movies than Roger Ebert, and yet his essential writings have never been collected in a single volume—until now. With Awake in the Dark , both fans and film buffs can finally bask in the best of Ebert’s work. The reviews, interviews, and essays collected here present a picture of this indispensable critic’s numerous contributions to the cinema and cinephilia. From The Godfather to GoodFellas , from Cries and Whispers to Crash , the reviews in Awake in the Dark span some of the most exceptional periods in film history, from the dramatic rise of rebel Hollywood and the heyday of the auteur, to the triumph of blockbuster films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark , to the indie revolution that is still with us today. The extraordinary interviews gathered in Awake in the Dark capture Ebert engaging not only some of the most influential directors of our time—Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Robert Altman, Werner Herzog, and Ingmar Bergman—but also some of the silver screen’s most respected and dynamic personalities, including actors as diverse as Robert Mitchum, James Stewart, Warren Beatty, and Meryl Streep. Ebert’s remarkable essays play a significant part in Awake in the Dark as well. The book contains some of Ebert’s most admired pieces, among them a moving appreciation of John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to the virtues of black-and-white films. If Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris were godmother and godfather to the movie generation, then Ebert is its voice from within—a writer whose exceptional intelligence and daily bursts of insight and enthusiasm have shaped the way we think about the movies. Awake in the Dark , therefore, will be a treasure trove not just for fans of this seminal critic, but for anyone desiring a fascinating and compulsively readable chronicle of film since the late 1960s. A collection of reviews, interviews, and essays, which present a picture of the author's contributions to the cinema and cinephilia. It is suitable for those desiring a chronicle of film since the late 1960s. The influential, Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic offers four decades of his personal insights, encounters, and experiences in the world of motion pictures