Roger Ebert's Journal

Roger you are missed! Get well soon!
Scott, Toronto, Canada

Roger, you are sincerely an inspiration to me in the world of film and criticism. Your sheer determination to do what you love will forever motivate me for this field! I wish you a full and restful recovery and can't wait to keep reading...

Roger,

At the age of 60 I've lost track of the number of years I've relied on your opinions and insights. Keep fighting to come back soon, and don't get mentally down which is easy for anyone to do who gets tired of being held back. You should be working your way up out of the medical valley at this point for another good 25-30 years.

For inspiration, maybe you can come up with a few dozen movie quotes to be plastered on the walls of the institute for everyone to use as motivation.

Rally

You're a good man to follow doctor's orders, and even better for you're love of film. No illness can destroy that.

I have nothing to offer except my sincere hope that you get well and feel better soon.

Best regards,
Matt

Get well soon Roger.

Still your happening!

This year I'll only have a chance to take in the films on Friday afternoon and evening (I've had to arrange a teaching substitute in order to see _Underworld_); but I'm hugely grateful for the chance you've given me to do so.

The festival has not only been a pleasure to attend for the last few years, but has helped protect and restore the beautiful Virginia Theater, which has continued to screen films and host performances throughout the year.

You're right up there in the pantheon of Illinois cultural forces, along with Hef and the late Mark VanDoren, and we hope to see you back again sometime very soon. Next year at the latest!

Get well soon Roger! We need you back out there for good!
Robert, New York, NY

You are the great master of movie reviews. Take it easy and get better soon. :))))

It's hard wanting to be somewhere you can't. :-( But I do hope that you are in good spirits. My mom is recovering right now from surgery (cervical cancer); to hear you are doing as well as can be for the situation is to hear happy news indeed.

Of particular interest perhaps... the Drama League Awards, according to press notes, "pay tribute to the season's best performers by honoring the nominees of The Distinguished Performance Award on a dais." The 74th Annual Drama League Awards dais will feature dozens of performers from the 2007-08 Broadway and Off-Broadway season, including the honorary co-chairs. Rufus Sewell is among the actors to be honored for his performance in the Broadway play Rock 'n' Roll.

- Joseph (uber fan)

I know you'll get better, there's no way you'd miss Indy 4.

In my teenage years, when the family still planned large trips, we booked a house in North Carolina right on the beach. My Grandfather, who was battling prostrate cancer for some time, was looking forward to the trip and its promised escape more than I can imagine, he fell and broke his hip in the bathroom the morning of. House booked, various family members en route, there was no rescheduling. As an avid questioner I found in my Grandfather a wealth of information that never failed to stimulate great thoughts, from the trip to the Wright Brothers museum, to surf casting and the sharing of new jokes found over the summer, his absence from these events made our presence lesser. Get well Roger an Ebertfest without Ebert seems a mean trick.
-wjp

I wish you a quick and full recovery Roger. Your words over the years have been inspiration for readers and critics alike.

Aaron- Van Nuys, CA

Dear Mr. Ebert,

I am a big fan of your reviews! Even when I have no intention of seeing a certain movie (though I see plenty) your reviews are always entertaining in their own right. I also love the Bigger Little Movie Glossary.
Are you allowed to watch movies at the Rehabilitation Institute to catch up or is that considered too taxing? Get well soon!

Dear ER,
We all know your soul is there at Ebertfest.You know, "where the mind is without fear, the head is held high.... "(Tagore).Into that heaven of freedom, you are always awake. Mere absence of your body in Ebertfest will not affect the glory of the festival. You have a bunch of real jolly goodfellas, not to mention Chaz, Jim, Hannah et all.
Cheers !

We're all still praying you big guy. :) I'm happy to see you on the blogosphere. Welcome! And all the best!

Hi Roger,

We'll miss you. I'm on the road, having stopped overnight in Kentucky on my way to Urbana for the film festival. We'll take good care of Chaz and all the guests and hope that you are able to join us later in the week.

Best wishes on your recovery

Don
Huntsville, AL

Roger: I am so sorry you and your wife have this new challenge to contend with. I have loved your reviews ever since I heard you and Gene discuss "The Return of the Secaucus Seven." I don't feel I have really seen a movie until I hear from you. The festival next year will just have to be extra special. Thank you for continuing to write and my best wishes are with you.

Dear Roger,

Best wishes and may all your dreams come true. Everyone is thinking of you and wants all the best for a special guy like you.

Thank you for starting a blog! It is an excellent addition to your amazing body of work. I wish you success and improved health.

Ebertfest won't be the same without you. A family member called to tell me that you would be absent from this year's Ebertfest, and upon hearing the news, sadness crept over me.

Last year, although you were unable to speak, your presence spoke to us. Your love of the festival was shown because your face shone. Your love of Champaign-Urbana and Ebertfest makes ME and other attendees happy and fulfilled.

I am so sorry that you had a mishap and landed back in the hospital. You are wise to stay close to the hospital personnel assisting you for the hip surgery and rehab so that you may recover safely and more quickly. How about a web-cam appearance this year--to give us two thumbs up to let us know you are okay? :-)

You will be missed by each and every person involved with Ebertfest, but we will do our best to make this year's festival the best yet, out of respect for you.

Our hearts are with you there in Chicago just as your heart is with us here in Champaign-Urbana.

All the best.
MK

Dear Roger-

I am very sad that you will be unable to make it this year- and even more sad that you can't make it due to being injured. I have cherished Ebertfest for the past 4 years and always feel very close to everyone who attends as we always share a common understanding and appreciation for the art on the screen and the discussions that unfold after each film. Your contribution to the CU community provides us with the opportunity to appreciate the diversity of art along with each other. It also creates a foundation for which we can move forward with a different take on life after having seen a film we may not have picked up as a rental or seen on our own.

It is always wonderful to have your face and thoughts on stage and in the crowd and I hope you know you will be sorely missed this year. As your heart is in Urbana, our hearts and thoughts are with you wishing you the speediest of recoveries so that you will be back together with us next year!

Sincerely,
Mollie Holman

Get well soon Mr. Ebert. The age of Superhero Movie crossovers may be coming and it needs you to be there.

Best wishes to you, Roger. And a belated thanks for the mention in your "Married Life" review.

I went by the Virginia Theater early this morning where Jim Emerson was talking about the festival with Channel 3. In some way, you were there, too, as you will be throughout the festival, whether in the flesh or not.

The best to you as you recover. :-)

Judy (Cyberfest)

Get well soon. :) We're all praying for you. Godspeed.

Roger,

Wishing you a full and speedy recovery. Keep fighting the good fight! I have fond recollections of my days in Urbana at the U. of I. and I still recall a brief email exchange we had about film, oh, 15 years ago now. You're an inspiration.

Cheers, Matt

We LOVE YOU Roger!! Get well soon please! =P

First: continued best wishes. I cannot wait until you are writing regularly again. My weekly Friday ritual has been missed.

Second: Bill Forstyh! The Scottish director? I submitted an answer man question to you about the time you first became ill wondering whatever happened to him. He made so many wonderful movies then...nothing. Any information on what happened and the prospects for his return would be very welcome.

Best of luck on your recovery and we look forward to reading your reporting from next year's festival.

Man I mis your reviews Roger.

Best Wishes and a speedy recovery!

Ugh! How heartbreaking. You have my sympathies regarding your new "medical adventures". Just keep moving forward, making the most of the life around you. And with all the love and support surrounding you these days, that should not be too difficult.

Rest up friend.

John
Atlanta, GA

To: Ebert's heart

Bring a friend when you come to Champaign; ours will all be in Chicago with you! Thanks for the festival and all the amazing writing! Next year Raja!

Hi Roger,

I'm sorry to hear that you're not well and won't be able to attend your film festival this year. Hang in there! My dad (who's older than you) fell and broke his hip last year, and he's up and walking around again, just as good as new.

I wanted to let you know that you've been an inspiration to me. Your enthusiasm for great films led me to watch movies by Kurosawa, Lean, Ford, and so many other great directors. It's because of you that I've developed my own love and appreciation for films, and I can't thank you enough for that!

I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery!

To: Ebert's heart

Bring a friend when you come to Champaign; ours will all be in Chicago with you! Thanks for the festival and all the amazing writing! Next year Raja!

You are an inspiration to me, Mr. Ebert. Before too much time passes, please do a review of Hayao Miyazaki's "Castle in the Sky" (Known in Japan as Laputa: Castle in the Sky.) That is one of his best films and I would love to read your commentary on it. Take your time, recuperate thorougly, and get well soon! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Too bad I can't go to Ebertfest, though! Also, when I went to an impeachment rally two years ago, I mentioned two of your quotes and several documentaries you reviewed, and a couple kids in the front row gave you the thumbs-up! God bless you and yours, and all your friends.

Get well soon. This is just a intermission for you. The second half will be twice as good.

So many people "out here" love you, Roger, and send you our love and best wishes! You are such a courageous person to share yourself with us when things are not always thumbs up--thank you for inspiring me to make the most of every day like you do!

God bless you and your family!

Feel better soon, Roger. You will be missed this Fest, but your spirit will be in everything surrounding the place, from the dazzling lights of the Virginia marquee to the excited murmurings of guests waiting to enter the theater. Thank you for choosing such wonderful guests. We shall put them to good use...

I know it must be painful (literally) to miss your own film festival, but your health and longterm well-being has to come first. Feel better soon.

Looking forward to new reviews from my favorite film essayist...

Roger -- I have had a picture of you and Gene as my screensaver for years! You're looking up toward the screen from your old TV studio set.

Please get well soon! I wish you and Chaz all the best! I love your writing -- have all your books! Thank you for everything!

Hi, Roger,

Please get well soon. I've been a big fan since the earliest days.

Hi Roger- You rank right there with Mike Royko in my list of all-time favorite Chicago columnists. Your reviews are certainly worth the price of the paper. I especially like your reviews of the bad ones - they allow your natural wit to shine through.

Good luck with the recovery.

Roger, you are an inspiration to all writers and lovers of film! I will be cheering you on throughout your recovery!

Mr. Ebert: Nobody with any sense volunteers to be in a situation that would permit them to earn the designation of "inspiration" through their misfortunes, but you ARE an inspiration and a great source of admiration not just for your insights (nothing new) but also for the depths of character and courage which your illnesses have either developed or revealed -- probably a little of each.

It's safe to surmise that EVERYBODY who has been exposed to you is rooting for your recovery, for your continued optimism, and for the privilege of someday getting to shake your hand. All the best to you and to those who are there to support (and be supported by) you. But, you don't need my best wishes. You've got character and wisdom.

Roger, argh, very sorry you have to deal with another medical adventure. Thank you for being an inspiration through it all ... your insights, as always, are a source of strength and wisdom when it comes to both movies and to life. Have been dealing with CFS for a while now, but I always repeat to myself what you said ... being sick is no fun, but you can still have fun when you're sick! Yup. You are so right. Thanks for all and wishing you all the very, very best of healing, recovery and fun wherever it can fit. I am hoping to make it to an Ebertfest one day and am also hoping that by next year's fest, you will have long felt much, much better. Have missed you on TV, but thrilled you're feeling up to writing. Nobody does it better!

Roger. As a newspaper reporter and a fan of your reviews, I wish you a speedy recovery. I met you at a book signing one day about 15 years ago at a Chicago, North Suburban book store. I informed you that my brother had seen the 1960 epic, "The Magnificent Seven" nearly 80 times. And you, per my request, signed your latest book, a birthday present to my brother with, "Bill. I heard you've seen The Magnificent Seven nearly 80 times. Get a life! Roger Ebert". A priceless memory.

Hope you're doing very well, very soon. With everyone else, I'm thrilled to see that you have a regular outlet for your fine writing. Looking forward,

Daniel
Minneapolis

Dear Mr. Ebert,

Best wishes for your recovery. I can't tell you how many wonderful movies (past and present) you've pointed me to through your reviews. I've long admired your writing style as well. Take care and hang in there!

Roger, You are in our thoughts, especially here in Champaign-Urbana this week. I'm looking forward to attending Ebertfest for my first time. Thanks for all your work and dedication, encouraging and making possible great film experiences for the rest of us! Be well.

Get well soon, Roger. Your presence is sorely missed in the film world. I'd love to hear your thoughts on a number of films that are coming out soon.

I've only now just discovered your on-line journal. I hope these words find you as well as can be, and I look forward to many, many more entries to come. Thanks.