News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Sunday December 21st 2025
Tribute: Roger Ebert 1942-2013
By Howard McQuitter II
Film Critic of Film Critics
When I stumbled on Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert on television discussing movies I was glued to the set — a certain inspiration for me being a movie critic. I”'d always liked movies since I was a boy in south Minneapolis. But Siskel and Ebert”'s “At the Movies”,” Sneak Previews”, etc. sent me to higher planes. Siskel died of brain cancer at age 53. Ebert had written screenplays for Meyer. Ebert”'s best known screenplay for Meyer “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” in 1969 instantly was a cult hit.
Ebert wrote for The Chicago Sun-Times for years becoming the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1975. In addition his reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and afar and wrote more than 15 books. He also became the first film critic to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mr. Ebert ushered a new era in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s on reviewing movies and films. “Thumbs Up!” or “Thumbs Down!” on the movies that came down the pike became the signature phrase Ebert invented with the late Siskel joining in on their TV show before the curtain came down.… Read the rest “Tribute: Roger Ebert 1942-2013”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
It Ain”'t Easy Being”¦
By Peter Molenaar
Just as the “Raise Your Voice” column appears once a month inside the back cover of “The Alley” so does Ricey Wild”'s “It Ain”'t Easy Being Indian” appear monthly in “The Circle”. Both columns should be regularly read.
Admittedly though, for insightful truths elevated to the level of a belly laugh, Ricey is the one. In the April issue, the after-life is pondered via her childhood encounter with an evangelistic revival. She wryly states: “Until then I didn”'t know I was supposed to want eternal life”¦at the time mine was okay except for school and chores.”
She goes on:
“If I only knew then what I know now! GRRR! I could have been so mean, bad”¦freely hated, had B2 bombers full of cold cash, shoes and Ferraris to crash, and still in the end hang out in Heaven. Because I was saved!
Yet, regarding the “straight and narrow”, Ricey says: “It is my Gramma”'s face that has kept me out of the worst of it, just the thought of her looking at me with disappointment makes me cringe and stay strong.” This is interesting. It was my father”'s face (Freud”'s super-ego civilizing agent) which prevented me from chasing the easy girls.… Read the rest “It Ain”'t Easy Being”¦”