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Questions for the Movie Answer Man
What was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction ? Why don't movie actors wear seat belts? Was Fargo really based on a true story? Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert answers these and hundreds more. Using wit, insight, and dozens of other experts, he resolves some of the most common questions about the moviesand some of the most bizarre.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
3 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Roger Ebert
91 books403 followersRoger Joseph Ebert was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic and screenwriter.
He was known for his weekly review column (appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and later online) and for the television program Siskel & Ebert at the Movies, which he co-hosted for 23 years with Gene Siskel. After Siskel's death in 1999, he auditioned several potential replacements, ultimately choosing Richard Roeper to fill the open chair. The program was retitled Ebert & Roeper and the Movies in 2000.
Ebert's movie reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and abroad. He wrote more than 15 books, including his annual movie yearbook. In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. His television programs have also been widely syndicated, and have been nominated for Emmy awards. In February 1995, a section of Chicago's Erie Street near the CBS Studios was given the honorary name Siskel & Ebert Way. Ebert was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2005, the first professional film critic to receive one. Roger Ebert was named as the most influential pundit in America by Forbes Magazine, beating the likes of Bill Maher, Lou Dobbs, and Bill O'Reilly.[2] He has honorary degrees from the University of Colorado, the American Film Institute, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
From 1994 until his death in 2013, he wrote a Great Movies series of individual reviews of what he deemed to be the most important films of all time. He also hosted the annual Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois from 1999 until his death.
He was known for his weekly review column (appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and later online) and for the television program Siskel & Ebert at the Movies, which he co-hosted for 23 years with Gene Siskel. After Siskel's death in 1999, he auditioned several potential replacements, ultimately choosing Richard Roeper to fill the open chair. The program was retitled Ebert & Roeper and the Movies in 2000.
Ebert's movie reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and abroad. He wrote more than 15 books, including his annual movie yearbook. In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. His television programs have also been widely syndicated, and have been nominated for Emmy awards. In February 1995, a section of Chicago's Erie Street near the CBS Studios was given the honorary name Siskel & Ebert Way. Ebert was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2005, the first professional film critic to receive one. Roger Ebert was named as the most influential pundit in America by Forbes Magazine, beating the likes of Bill Maher, Lou Dobbs, and Bill O'Reilly.[2] He has honorary degrees from the University of Colorado, the American Film Institute, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
From 1994 until his death in 2013, he wrote a Great Movies series of individual reviews of what he deemed to be the most important films of all time. He also hosted the annual Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois from 1999 until his death.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 6, 2011
This is a book from 1997 in which Roger Ebert answers miscellaneous movie-related questions submitted by readers. It's going on fifteen years old as I write this review, so some of the questions are getting a little dated. For instance, people and theaters back then were struggling mightily with that newfangled surround sound and the concept of letterboxing, which aren't quite the concern today that they were then. And the current movies that created a lot of buzz are now "oldies": Beyond Sunrise, Forrest Gump, Judge Dredd, The Fugitive, Fargo and others of that era.
Most of the questions, though, are timeless. Why don't previews match the movie sometimes? Should I ask for an actor's autograph? What's a foley artist? Etc.
It's a fun book perfect for "the reading room" or bedtime reading or anytime you're stuck in a line and need something quick and breezy. Or you can do as I did and just sit and read it, telling yourself, "Okay, just one more segment and then I'll get to work...okay, one more...really this time, just one more...."
Most of the questions, though, are timeless. Why don't previews match the movie sometimes? Should I ask for an actor's autograph? What's a foley artist? Etc.
It's a fun book perfect for "the reading room" or bedtime reading or anytime you're stuck in a line and need something quick and breezy. Or you can do as I did and just sit and read it, telling yourself, "Okay, just one more segment and then I'll get to work...okay, one more...really this time, just one more...."
August 20, 2020
Don't get me wrong, I love Roger Ebert. He was my entry, like that of many young people, into film criticism. And some of his newer, honest, and more personal writing that he has done during his recent illness has revealed him to be a superb essayist.
However, the Movie Answer Man column has always been dumb, less an informative column for avid film aficionados and more of a forum for Ebert to answer questions with pithy little jokes.
And, again, when it comes to Ebert's so-called "humor," I am far more appreciative than most; he's funny like your friend's dad is funny. Compiling all these columns together into a single book, the joke grows old fast, especially when you are curious to know the real answer to the posed question. Even by bathroom reading standards, this one gets a major Thumbs Down.
However, the Movie Answer Man column has always been dumb, less an informative column for avid film aficionados and more of a forum for Ebert to answer questions with pithy little jokes.
And, again, when it comes to Ebert's so-called "humor," I am far more appreciative than most; he's funny like your friend's dad is funny. Compiling all these columns together into a single book, the joke grows old fast, especially when you are curious to know the real answer to the posed question. Even by bathroom reading standards, this one gets a major Thumbs Down.
June 9, 2018
I didn't think it was possible for me to rate something from Ebert so low, but this collection of newspaper columns is embarrassingly slapdash, full of answers to questions about movies that played for 3 weeks in the 1980s and '90s and, in many cases, we're quickly forgotten. You'll wonder why anyone cared.
August 18, 2023
Roger Ebert was the best
I love Roger Ebert's books because I love movies. This book is educational and at the same time very humorous. I don't always agree with his reviews, but I always enjoy reading them. This book doesn't contain reviews per se, but you can certainly figure out how he feels about certain movies that come up in the questions.
I love Roger Ebert's books because I love movies. This book is educational and at the same time very humorous. I don't always agree with his reviews, but I always enjoy reading them. This book doesn't contain reviews per se, but you can certainly figure out how he feels about certain movies that come up in the questions.
April 3, 2018
Ebert was a very good writer.
November 16, 2011
If "Questions for the movie answer man" were a carefully structured journey through the known and unknown trivia tidbits surrounding the last 100 years of Hollywood film-making, this would be a welcome book to exist on any cinemaphile's bookshelf. Unfortunately, this is only a thematically compiled collection of letters sent to Roger Ebert's "Movie answer man" column. This is troublesome for many reasons.
Firstly, the questions are often stupid and repetitive. Second, his responses are simplistic, snide or at their worst sarcastic. Sometimes, they are even inaccurate - a serious flaw from the Movie answer man... (Did he really say Steve Zemeckis directed Forrest Gump?!)
Probably the biggest issue with this specific compilation is that the questions were all received in a certain span of time, so the discussions are limited to a small segment of movie releases...
"Questions for the movie answer man" seems to be more about Ebert's handling of questions rather than about the cinema itself. If one wanted to work on their own film or literary criticism, they may find this book enlightening, but in reality its mostly irrelevant to today's audiences.
Firstly, the questions are often stupid and repetitive. Second, his responses are simplistic, snide or at their worst sarcastic. Sometimes, they are even inaccurate - a serious flaw from the Movie answer man... (Did he really say Steve Zemeckis directed Forrest Gump?!)
Probably the biggest issue with this specific compilation is that the questions were all received in a certain span of time, so the discussions are limited to a small segment of movie releases...
"Questions for the movie answer man" seems to be more about Ebert's handling of questions rather than about the cinema itself. If one wanted to work on their own film or literary criticism, they may find this book enlightening, but in reality its mostly irrelevant to today's audiences.
December 12, 2011
Typically, I enjoy reading Roger Ebert's reviews, even if I don't always agree with his assessments. His prose style is enjoyable.
This book, however, is a different story. Consisting of a little over 300 pages, most of the text is made up of questions from readers of his Movie Answer Man column in the newspaper. His answers are mostly one-liner wisecracks. Now and again, Ebert elaborates, but there's not enough of him in this book to make it worthwhile. You have to slog through a lot of piffle to periodically get to a bit of substance.
Additionally, this book was first published back in 1997, so some of the issues raised have become non-issues today, 15 years later. Colorization, letterboxing, surround sound are all controversies that very few people even care about today.
All in all, even though I plowed through and picked up on a few observations and comments that seemed better than the usual throw-away line, overall I can't recommend the book. It's just too much work for too little payback about (some) movies and issues that are not too relevant today.
This book, however, is a different story. Consisting of a little over 300 pages, most of the text is made up of questions from readers of his Movie Answer Man column in the newspaper. His answers are mostly one-liner wisecracks. Now and again, Ebert elaborates, but there's not enough of him in this book to make it worthwhile. You have to slog through a lot of piffle to periodically get to a bit of substance.
Additionally, this book was first published back in 1997, so some of the issues raised have become non-issues today, 15 years later. Colorization, letterboxing, surround sound are all controversies that very few people even care about today.
All in all, even though I plowed through and picked up on a few observations and comments that seemed better than the usual throw-away line, overall I can't recommend the book. It's just too much work for too little payback about (some) movies and issues that are not too relevant today.
March 13, 2013
Ebert, the Movie Answer Man, answers questions from many areas related to movies, including questions about particular movies, directors, and actors. I especially liked questions about Dumb Audiences, Flops, Books into Films, Casablanca, and Movie Math.
Amazing how often references to Tarantino and Pulp Fiction show up in many categories!
Amazing how often references to Tarantino and Pulp Fiction show up in many categories!
Want to read
November 7, 2011$1.99
July 3, 2013
I found this interesting but it would not be if you were too young to remember the movies he is answering questions about!!
May 3, 2013
The title pretty much says it all.
October 1, 2013
3 1/2
December 11, 2022
people write in with their movie questions and roger ebert answers. i need to skim it again to remind myself why i loved it so much, but i remember just loving it so much.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews