Ebert's cancer recurrence means fewer film reviews

[onehandle]

Source: AP



CHICAGO (AP) -- Roger Ebert will be writing fewer of his famed movie reviews because of a recurrence of cancer, but the movie critic promises his illness will give him other topics to write about.

The Pulitzer Prize winner announced on his blog that he is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer that was discovered after he fractured his hip last year. He can't attend as many movie screenings, he said, so he will scale back. He's calling it a "leave of presence."

"It means I am not going away," Ebert, 70, wrote in a blog post late Tuesday. "I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review."

Still, it's a loss for Ebert's fans and the film world, said Dann Gire, president of the Chicago Film Critics Association and movie critic for The Daily Herald newspaper in Arlington Heights. Ebert wrote more than 300 movie reviews last year.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/eberts-cancer-recurrence-means-fewer-130315917.html

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Damn. Take care, Roger.



Thank you. Forty-six years ago on April 3, 1967, I became the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter. However you came to know me, I'm glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.

Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call "a leave of presence."

What in the world is a leave of presence? It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review.

At the same time, I am re-launching the new and improved Rogerebert.com and taking ownership of the site under a separate entity, Ebert Digital, run by me, my beloved wife, Chaz, and our brilliant friend, Josh Golden of Table XI. Stepping away from the day-to-day grind will enable me to continue as a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and roll out other projects under the Ebert brand in the coming year.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2013/04/a_leave_of_presense.html

[dhill926]

1. very weird re-reading this....

with the news that he just died.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

2. Ironically, the same thing happened when Gene Siskel passed.

You might recall he took a Hiatus from the TV show shortly before he died. The Sunday magazine "Parade" had an interview with Ebert that took place before Siskel's death, but wasn't published until after Siskel had passed. And the article blurb began, "While his friend Gene Siskel takes a rest, . . . ."

[cstanleytech]

4. I remember the week that

Dean Marc in died that either Star, Globe or The Enquirer had on there cover the headline "Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to team up again" and it made me wonder if Lewis was concerned.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. It's also like Freddie Mercury.

Issued a press release saying he was sick, died the next day.

[cstanleytech]

5. Or the Peanuts had the last new strip published with the artist

Charles Shults died the day before.

[onehandle]

6. I miss Freddie.

Queen was my first 'big' concert. Sixth row center, on the floor, 1977.