by Josh Sewell
It’s not an exaggeration to say that without Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, you wouldn’t be reading these words right now. While other children my age were playing sports on the weekends, I was watching the esteemed film critics’ syndicated show on my tiny bedroom TV. (I know it’s shocking that a middle-aged film critic was an indoor kid. I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor.)
Siskel and Ebert’s insightful writing, and their clever way of translating their thoughts for an entirely different medium, paved the way for countless journalists of my generation to try making a living out of putting words on paper. Is it a lucrative occupation? Absolutely not. But it allows me to spend my time doing what I love, while also teaching college students the importance of media literacy – a crucial skill in our current age of conspiracy theories and “fake news.”
Considering Siskel and Ebert’s influence on my life, when I heard that Matt Singer (editor-in-chief of ScreenCrush and a respected film critic in his own right) had written a biography on the duo and their impact on pop culture, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’m glad I did – I devoured his account of both men’s individual lives and their success as a team. Simply put, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever is one of the best books I read all year.
In the pre-internet era, before people knew about IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, most Americans seeking movie advice sought out two esteemed critics: the aforementioned Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Giving a film “two thumbs up” on their nationally syndicated television show did wonders for its box office prospects and cultural relevance. In this meticulously researched history of the duo’s partnership – which began as a bitter rivalry before evolving into a deep friendship – Singer chronicles the lives and legacies of two men who continue to influence the way we talk and think about movies.
From the beginning, the author makes it clear he’s not an unbiased observer. He explains the impact Siskel and Ebert had on his life, approaching his subjects from that perspective. However, his book isn’t a fawning, fanboy take on the duo – he explains, in vivid detail – how both men, no matter how brilliant, were driven by ego and rivalry.
He chronicles the pair’s struggle to get the hang of their original public television show, until they learned how to turn it into one of the most successful syndicated series in television history. They even gave a Chicago reporter named Oprah Winfrey some pointers about getting into their line of work.
Modern movie fans might rely on the internet more than individual voices, but Opposable Thumbs recalls an era when film critics actually mattered. Granted, I might be biased considering I spend a lot of my week analyzing films so readers can know my thoughts on current releases, but Singer’s book emphasizes the idea that film is more than just a way to kill time. It’s an art form that deserves to be studied. Siskel and Ebert were some of the best to ever do it.
Grade: A
Book Spotlight
You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything, by Walter Hickey
In this fascinating pop culture study, Hickey (Pulitzer Prize winner and former writer at FiveThirtyEight.com) argues our most popular forms of entertainment can have a direct physical effect on us, as well as a measurable impact on society, geopolitics, the economy and even the future itself. Employing a mix of research, deep reporting, and 100 data visualizations, Hickey presents the true power of entertainment and culture, including the decrease in shark populations after “Jaws” and how crime statistics prove that violent movies actually lead to less real-world violence.
Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America, by Michael Harriot
In this passionate and frequently funny retelling of American history from a Black perspective, investigative reporter and cultural critic Harriot offers a fresh perspective on aspects of our country’s narrative where myth has often prevailed over facts. Combining unapologetically provocative storytelling with meticulous research based on primary sources, as well as the work of pioneering Black historians, scholars and journalists, Black AF History shines a spotlight on little-known stories about the experiences of Black Americans.
Home Video Spotlight
The Muppets Take Manhattan
(Rated G. Now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital.)
The Muppets take New York City by storm in this 1984 family film about the gang’s effort to break into show business. Fresh college grads Kermit, Fozzie and the entire cast of their musical Manhattan Melodies head to Broadway hoping to turn the play into a hit. They need a producer, but nobody wants to meet with them – so Kermit has to stay optimistic for the sake of his friends. With hard work and a little luck, the show will go on. Bonus features include a new commentary with director Frank Oz; an archival interview with Him Henson; and the “Muppetisms” featurette.
Godzilla (1998)
(Rated PG-13 for sci-fi monster action/violence. Now available in a limited edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook.)
In this ’90s remake of the classic monster flick, atomic bomb tests in the South Pacific unleash a gigantic, irradiated lizard. When a scientist (Matthew Broderick) is called in to investigate, he realizes the creature is headed toward Manhattan to wreak havoc on a massive scale. Bonus features include the film’s theatrical trailers; a visual effects commentary; two behind-the-scenes featurettes’ and the “Heroes” music video by The Wallflowers.
We Are Not Alone
(Not rated. Now available to rent on VOD.)
The question of Earth’s place in the universe – and whether we’re alone in it – has been asked for centuries. Only recently have governments publicly discussed the issue of UFOs, and now, in 2023, it is widely accepted that we are not alone. We Are Not Alone follows the journey of presenter, Emmy-nominated investigative filmmaker and reality TV star Serena DC as she looks away from Hollywood stars and toward the stars in our universe, featuring interviews with noted “ufologists.”
Siskel and Ebert’s insightful writing, and their clever way of translating their thoughts for an entirely different medium, paved the way for countless journalists of my generation to try making a living out of putting words on paper. Is it a lucrative occupation? Absolutely not. But it allows me to spend my time doing what I love, while also teaching college students the importance of media literacy – a crucial skill in our current age of conspiracy theories and “fake news.”
Considering Siskel and Ebert’s influence on my life, when I heard that Matt Singer (editor-in-chief of ScreenCrush and a respected film critic in his own right) had written a biography on the duo and their impact on pop culture, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’m glad I did – I devoured his account of both men’s individual lives and their success as a team. Simply put, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever is one of the best books I read all year.
In the pre-internet era, before people knew about IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, most Americans seeking movie advice sought out two esteemed critics: the aforementioned Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Giving a film “two thumbs up” on their nationally syndicated television show did wonders for its box office prospects and cultural relevance. In this meticulously researched history of the duo’s partnership – which began as a bitter rivalry before evolving into a deep friendship – Singer chronicles the lives and legacies of two men who continue to influence the way we talk and think about movies.
From the beginning, the author makes it clear he’s not an unbiased observer. He explains the impact Siskel and Ebert had on his life, approaching his subjects from that perspective. However, his book isn’t a fawning, fanboy take on the duo – he explains, in vivid detail – how both men, no matter how brilliant, were driven by ego and rivalry.
He chronicles the pair’s struggle to get the hang of their original public television show, until they learned how to turn it into one of the most successful syndicated series in television history. They even gave a Chicago reporter named Oprah Winfrey some pointers about getting into their line of work.
Modern movie fans might rely on the internet more than individual voices, but Opposable Thumbs recalls an era when film critics actually mattered. Granted, I might be biased considering I spend a lot of my week analyzing films so readers can know my thoughts on current releases, but Singer’s book emphasizes the idea that film is more than just a way to kill time. It’s an art form that deserves to be studied. Siskel and Ebert were some of the best to ever do it.
Grade: A
Book Spotlight
In this fascinating pop culture study, Hickey (Pulitzer Prize winner and former writer at FiveThirtyEight.com) argues our most popular forms of entertainment can have a direct physical effect on us, as well as a measurable impact on society, geopolitics, the economy and even the future itself. Employing a mix of research, deep reporting, and 100 data visualizations, Hickey presents the true power of entertainment and culture, including the decrease in shark populations after “Jaws” and how crime statistics prove that violent movies actually lead to less real-world violence.
In this passionate and frequently funny retelling of American history from a Black perspective, investigative reporter and cultural critic Harriot offers a fresh perspective on aspects of our country’s narrative where myth has often prevailed over facts. Combining unapologetically provocative storytelling with meticulous research based on primary sources, as well as the work of pioneering Black historians, scholars and journalists, Black AF History shines a spotlight on little-known stories about the experiences of Black Americans.
Home Video Spotlight
(Rated G. Now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital.)
The Muppets take New York City by storm in this 1984 family film about the gang’s effort to break into show business. Fresh college grads Kermit, Fozzie and the entire cast of their musical Manhattan Melodies head to Broadway hoping to turn the play into a hit. They need a producer, but nobody wants to meet with them – so Kermit has to stay optimistic for the sake of his friends. With hard work and a little luck, the show will go on. Bonus features include a new commentary with director Frank Oz; an archival interview with Him Henson; and the “Muppetisms” featurette.
(Rated PG-13 for sci-fi monster action/violence. Now available in a limited edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook.)
In this ’90s remake of the classic monster flick, atomic bomb tests in the South Pacific unleash a gigantic, irradiated lizard. When a scientist (Matthew Broderick) is called in to investigate, he realizes the creature is headed toward Manhattan to wreak havoc on a massive scale. Bonus features include the film’s theatrical trailers; a visual effects commentary; two behind-the-scenes featurettes’ and the “Heroes” music video by The Wallflowers.
(Not rated. Now available to rent on VOD.)
The question of Earth’s place in the universe – and whether we’re alone in it – has been asked for centuries. Only recently have governments publicly discussed the issue of UFOs, and now, in 2023, it is widely accepted that we are not alone. We Are Not Alone follows the journey of presenter, Emmy-nominated investigative filmmaker and reality TV star Serena DC as she looks away from Hollywood stars and toward the stars in our universe, featuring interviews with noted “ufologists.”
Reach out to Josh Sewell on Twitter @IAmJoshSewell
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