Where Movie Critics Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine
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Critic Doctor's final examination of festival

by Herb Kane
April 28th, 2002

This year's Ebertfest, a special event of the University of Illinois College of Communications, was clearly more successful than last year - both in attendance and entertainment value. The festival showed 14 screenings and drew about 19,000 people - according to festival reports. It was nice to see old friends again and to see Mr. Ebert himself. The man has a grueling schedule and yet he manages to pull through.

Roger Ebert's wife, Chaz (right), accepts a bouguet of flowers while the audience offers a warm applause. Nancy Casey (center), is the festival's executive producer.

Midway through the festival, Ebert made his usual late night trip to Steak-n-Shake and returned back to the Illini Union only to fall on a newly waxed floor. He went to the hospital and found out he had two hairline fractures in his left shoulder. Ebert still returned to the festival the next day with a sling on his arm. I walked up to the Pulitzer Prize winning critic and jokingly commented, "You should have called the Critic Doctor!" Ebert replied, "Oh, yeah - the ole Doc. I should have called him."

Roger Ebert is proof that too many latenight snacks at Steak-n-Shake can be very unhealthy! Luckily the festival had the Critic Doctor on hand to take this photo for observation.

It was also nice to see George Walton again. He was in the boxing documentary "On The Ropes" which was presented last year's fest and again this year screened at a nearby theater. Walton was invited back with his wife Tyrene, who was in prison during last year's viewing. I also met some critics for the first time including Jeff Westhoff from "Northwest Herald" (nwherald.com). My Critic Doctor intern, Mike Hall, and I had an interesting discussion with Mr. Westhoff on some movies - including "Frailty." Next I met James Berardinelli (reelviews.net) and his nice girlfriend. James is a true gentleman and he gave me the scoop on other good film festivals to attend. Finally, I visited with Peter Sobczynski, a well-informed Chicago film critic. It a blast meeting critics face to face and they all admire Mr. Ebert.

Reelviews.net film critic James Berardinelli and his girlfriend. His site contains more than 1,600 movie reviews.

Chicago film critic, Peter Sobczynski, gets an autograph from Robert Forster who starred in "Diamond Men."

Roger Ebert has his own nationally syndicated movie review column, a TV show with co-host Richard Roeper ("Ebert & Roeper and the Movies" - Buena Vista TV"), several published books and now this year the "Virginia Theater's" street, (Park Avenue), was named "Roger Ebert Honorary Boulevard." I wonder - is that anywhere near a Critic Doctor Court? :-)

This sign appears on the corner of Park Ave by the "Virigina Theater." Great, but where's Ebert's reserved parking spot?

Critic Doctor intern, Mike Hall (right) poses with talespress.com publisher Ray Elliott (left) and Champaign Park District Commissioner James Barham (center). Elliott brought writer Kaylie Jones ("A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries") to the festival.

Roger and I disagreed on a few films this year, but we agreed on the majority presented - making my trip from Iowa a worthwhile jaunt. I do have a suggestion for next year (or sometime in the future) and I hope Mr. Ebert will seriously consider my recommendation. There is one movie that comes to mind that was TOTALLY IGNORED by the movie industry. A brilliant movie with superior acting. I'm talking about Jim Carrey's "Man On The Moon." If any movie deserves to be at this festival - this is the one (Ebert gave the film 3 1/2 stars). If you bring this movie to the "Virginia Theater" in the future, Roger, I will personally buy you and your wife a Steak-n-Shake. So chew on that idea for awhile.

"Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival" is simply getting better. I'll be back.

Herb Kane
Publisher
Criticdoctor.com

Legendary actor Cliff Robertson (above) flew his airplane to Urbana just to attend the festival. Robertson will be appearing in the new "Spider-Man" movie.