I just finished reading the profile of Roger Ebert in Esquire. It is incredibly moving. I have no idea when Siskel and Ebert first aired or when I first began watching it, but for many years, it was part of my week. Later on, I continued to follow Ebert’s reviews online. For a few years, I wrote movie reviews myself and I relied on Ebert to give me guidance (that’s another story for another day).

Siskel and Ebert taught me that movies were more than entertainment. They taught me how to watch movies, what to look for, how to interpret them. Their friendship and their disagreements also showed a way to be human, humane, and yet be able to differ deeply about important and trivial matters.

It’s a wonderful story about a man who lives with passion, full humanity, and deep love in the midst of great obstacles. Ebert’s response to the article is here.