Podcasts about ebert changed movies forever

Send us a textIn today's episode, I am joined by Luis Mendez, the winner of the 2025 Oscar prediction contest on The Oscar Project. We talk about our reactions to the 97th Academy Awards, some movies from 2025 so far, and what we're looking forward to in the rest of 2025. Books mentioned in this episode include:Mickey 7 by Edward AshtonOpposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt SingerOscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael SchulmanFilms mentioned in this episode include:Wicked directed by Jon M. ChuAnora directed by Sean BakerConclave directed by Edward BergerThe Substance directed by Coralie FargeatPaddington in Peru directed by Dougal WilsonHeart Eyes directed by Josh RubenCompanion directed by Drew HancockBridget Jones: Mad About the Boy directed by Michael MorrisMickey 17 directed by Bong Joon-HoInside Out 2 directed by Kelsey MannHigh and Low directed by Akira KurosawaMaleficent directed by Robert StrombergBeauty and the Beast directed by Bill CondonCinderella directed by Kenneth BranaghSonic the Hedgehog directed by Jeff FowlerMy Man Godfrey directed by Gregory La CavaThe Shop Around the Corner directed by Ernst LubitschYou've Got Mail directed by Nora EphronSleeping Beauty directed by Clyde GeronimiHouse on Haunted Hill directed by William MaloneMr. Smith Goes to Washington directed by Frank CapraThe Thin Man directed by W.S. Van DykeWe talked about way more than this so check out the full list of films mentioned on Letterboxd.Check out Luis's work at mendezmoviereport.com.

On this episode, past guests of Books with Betsy and I share our favorite books of 2024! Listen to hear about lots of great 2024 books and the excellent backlist we got to this year.    Books mentioned in this episode:    Betsy's Best Categorically (books that…):  Shocked me:  How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix  None of This is True by Lisa Jewell  The Night House by Jo Nesbø Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra  Made me Cry: North Woods by Daniel Mason  The Bee Sting by Paul Murray  Underrated: God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas  Witness by Jamel Brinkley  Victim by Andrew Boryga  Fire Exit by Morgan Talty  Recommend Widely: Erasure by Percival Everett  Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar  Hard to Recommend:  Yr Dead by Sam Sax  Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina  Made me Think About my Life Differently: When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman    Books Highlighted by Guests: Mawuli Grant Agbefe:  Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer  Having and Being Had by Eula Bliss  Your Face Belongs to Us: A Tale of AI, a Secretive Startup, and the End of Privacy by Kashmir Hill Mean Girl Feminism: How White Feminists Gaslight, Gatekeep, and Girlboss by Kim Hong Nguyen We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance by Kellie Carter Jackson Mapping the Stars: Celebrity, Metonymy and the Networked Politics of Identity by Claire Sisco King Sam Wilmes:  Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III  We Spread by Iain Read We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell   The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro Amie Medley:  Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel  North Woods by Daniel Mason  The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño Tanima Kazi:  The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi  One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig  Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig  Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose  The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose  Stacy Jezerowski:  We Solve Murders by Richard Osman  Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney Sarah Sabet:  Klara & The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro  Atonement by Ian McEwan  Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden  The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Anna Deem:  The Nix by Nathan Hill  Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna Cat Shieh:  Give Me Space But Don't Go Far: My Unlikely Friendship with Anxiety by Haley Weaver Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber  Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates  I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee  Mo Smith:  The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley  The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker  Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens Leah @Dishingonbooks:  Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen  Grief is For People by Sloane Crosley Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán  James by Percival Everett  A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole  Emily McClanathan:  Babel by R.F. Kuang  Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood by Gretchen Sisson  Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan  A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings

2024 is nearly over and in this episode Librarians Andy, Keri, and Sam talk about their favorite reads from the past year and their reading goals for 2025. In this episode we talked about: Cloistered: My Years as a Nun by Catherine Coldstream The Celebrants by Steven Rowley Nick Drake: The Life by Richard Morton Jack Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America by Harry N. MacLean The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska by Warren Zanes The Vinyl Frontier: The Story of NASA's Interstellar Mixtape by Jonathan Scott Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay Entitlement by Rumaan Alam Deep As the Sky, Red As the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig Erasure by Percival Everett James by Percival Everett The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo

Send us a textRemember choosing a movie based on thumbs up or thumbs down? Matt Singer does. He joins Erik and Brian to discuss his book on legendary film critics Siskel and Ebert.Allswell - Your Dream Bed Starts HereFree delivery on your first order over $35.Instacart - Groceries delivered in as little as 1 hour.Free delivery on your first order over $35.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Steve talks with Matt Singer, author of Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever

Steve talks with Matt Singer, author of Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever

My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to writer Matt Singer whose book is Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever. My Summer Lair Chapter #292: Do You Miss Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert? Recorded: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 11:00 am (EST) For more show notes visit MySummerLair.com. Bonus Fun? Sign up for my newsletter because the F in FOMO doesn't stand for Fun. Stress free pop culture (TV shows! Books! Movies! Music! So Many Recommendations!!) tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Magic or Science? You decide.

In this episode, host Sandra Abrams has a conversation with Matt Singer - film critic, editor, podcaster, and author- about his new book, “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever.” The book offers an insightful and funny look into the iconic pair of film reviewers and their combative style, and shares details about how their THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN trademark began. Plus, given Matt's day job as film critic and editor of ScreenCrush.com, he talks about the role of film criticism for audiences in today's entertainment and media world. Learn more about Matt Singer here: https://www.matt-singer.net/and here: https://screencrush.com/author/mattsinger/Buy “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever” wherever books are sold as well as through: Penguin Random House https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710246/opposable-thumbs-by-matt-singer/---Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the mediaandmonuments.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

The late film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert created a television show that made them household names, and made their “two thumbs up” a coveted endorsement. Author and film critic Matt Singer looks at their unique role in Hollywood history in his new book, “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever.”

Matt Singer is editor and film critic at ScreenCrush and current chair of the New York Film Critics Circle. He's the author of Marvel's Spider-Man: From Amazing to Spectacular – The Definitive Comic Art Collection and a new book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Matt's websitehttps://www.matt-singer.net/ Opposable Thumbshttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710246/opposable-thumbs-by-matt-singer/ ScreenCrushhttps://screencrush.com/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Cool Shul Cultural Communityhttps://www.coolshul.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studiosTake a visit to my Website and blog Thinking on Music

On the heels of our conversation with Chaz Ebert discussing Life Itself, we are sharing this episode from our friends at Filmspotting. As we learned from Chaz, even Roger himself once admitted to getting one review wrong!In this episode, critic and author Matt Singer joins Filmspotting co-hosts Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen to consider the enduring impact of Ebert and his longtime partner Gene Siskel, and to dissect five other reviews they may have gotten wrong. Originally dropped in October, 2023, the episode followed publication of Matt's book, “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever”, a vivid telling of the definitive story of Siskel and Ebert and their iconic show, “At the Movies.” Listen and subscribe to Filmspotting on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This next guest is a film critic, editor, blogger, author, podcaster, author & on-air host. He is the Editor-in-chief at Screen Crush & he's got a newer book out (Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever). We also talk about some newer projects with his personal & professional opinon as well as revisiting a classic. Let's Welcome Matt Singer! Matt Singer Book: https://www.amazon.com/Opposable-Thumbs-Siskel-Changed-Forever/dp/0593540158/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4AGOp3oib_Our6dfI2acNAGnhwN7-3RAgEJmbx0I-XcRjk-J9Y_16V6PAaAVtVqlr_2R6PLt0fXY3XkY_KNvtw.p2rSSlbgresJ14ORYuaB-vCxyH3LJbnSafXrfiVVT3g&qid=1711633154&sr=8-1 Screen Crush: https://screencrush.com/ Crazy Train Radio Facebook: facebook.com/realctradio X/Twitter: @realctradio Instagram: @crazytrainradio Website: crazytrainradio.us YouTube: youtube.com/crazytrainradio --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/crazytrainradio/support

THIS VOYAGE, the Decksperts are back on DECK 78, writer/producer/author MARK A. ALTMAN (Pandora, The Librarians, Free Enterprise), DAREN DOCHTERMAN (associate producer, Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Director's Edition), screenwriter ASHLEY E. MILLER (Thor, X-Men: First Class) sit down with MATT SINGER, the author of the new book OPPOSABLE THUMBS: HOW SISKEL & EBERT CHANGED MOVIES FOREVER for a fascinating conversation about the last legacy of Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert. Only on DECK 78. And don't miss all the great Treksperts Podcast Network shows wherever you listen to podcasts or visit trekspertsplus.com today. Follow us on social at: Instagram: @inglorioustreksperts Threads: @inglorioustreksperts Twitter/X: @inglorioustrek Facebook: facebook.com/inglorioustrek Post: @inglorioustrek Join us now on Discord at: https://discord.gg/7kgmJSExeh

Special Intro: Executive Producer Amanda  Film at 11: Lisa Frankenstein (2024)  Book IT: Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (2023) by Matt Singer   Scroll With IT: The FCC has outlawed AI-based robocalls, the auto industry is struggling with electric vehicles, and television may be dead. That's futuristic! Happy Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day from your friends at Too Much Scrolling #TMSLovesYou  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/tms21324

Matt Singer, author of Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever, joins us to discuss two TV guys who argued passionately about movies for over twenty years, during a period when American Cinema was in its heyday, and film criticism rose to the challenge. Matt's book covers the history of S&E's successful collaboration, somewhat surprising since they were first longform movie critics from competing Chicago newspapers, before they joined thumbs and their Two Thumbs Up! became a household movie endorsement. Matt describes the relationship, respect, and competition between the two, as well as his own relationship with Roger Ebert, and the history of S&E's work, how it evolved, what they did well, and maybe some places they missed the boat. Our conversation runs the gamut from fun stuff like skunks on the show to deeper questions about film criticism today. Matt's extraordinary knowledge about the history of S&E, as well as his enthusiasm for Siskel and Ebert as people and critics, for their show, and for movies in general bubbles forth in this episode. Whether you remember Siskel and Ebert or not, don't miss this episode about an extraordinary period in American Film.Matt's website:https://www.matt-singer.net/Matt's day job (read his articles here):https://screencrush.com/Matt on Letterboxd: @superpulsehttps://letterboxd.com/superpulse/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://booksshowstunes.discreetguide.com/contact/Sponsored by Discreet Guide Training:https://training.discreetguide.com/Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-actsSupport us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/discreetguideJennifer on Post.News:@JenCrittendenJennifer on Twitter:@DiscreetGuideJennifer on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/film

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/performing-arts

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/journalism

Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they'd ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023), award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he'd kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day. Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He won a Webby Award for his work on the Independent Film Channel's website. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

The late film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert created a television show that made them household names, and made their “two thumbs up” a coveted endorsement. Author and film critic Matt Singer looks at their unique role in Hollywood history in his new book, “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever.”

Kerry and Collin talk about the Christmas episodes from Murder She Wrote, Moonlighting, Psych, The Office, Pee-Wee's Playhouse and The Bear. Collin also covers some holiday offerings new on blu-ray/4K and offers his choices for the best blu-ray/4K releases of the year. Finally, they each recommend a movie-related book ("Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever," by Matt Singer and "Christmas On the Screen: Reviewing the Evolution of American Spirituality," by John A. Zukowski). Sprinkled in are some TV Christmas Special ads that aired in 1987.  Blu-ray Movies covered: "A Magical Christmas Village" (Hallmark) "Psych: The Complete Series" (Universal) "Stealing Christmas" (Universal) "The Office: The Complete Christmas Collection" (Universal) "The Christmas Martian" (Vinegar Syndrome) Books covered: "Opposable Things: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever," by Matt Singer. "Christmas On the Screen: Reviewing the Evolution of American Spirituality," by John A. Zukowski  

Welcome to this special Thanksgiving treat as Garrett has finally picked up the microphone and recorded a new Percolated Media Presents. Garrett certainly arrived to the proverbial Thanksgiving dinner with a good one, as he welcomes film review/author Matt Singer to talk about his brand-new book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever.

Welcome to this special Thanksgiving treat as Garrett has finally picked up the microphone and recorded a new Percolated Media Presents. Garrett certainly arrived to the proverbial Thanksgiving dinner with a good one, as he welcomes film review/author Matt Singer to talk about his brand-new book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever.

The late film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert created a television show that made them household names, and made their “two thumbs up” a coveted endorsement. Author and film critic Matt Singer looks at their unique role in Hollywood history in his new book, “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever.”

On this special episode of the Gold Derby Show, editor and expert Christopher Rosen is joined by author and critic Matt Singer to discuss Matt's new book, "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever." First, Chris and Matt chat about the book and Siskel and Ebert's place in history (2:14). Then, they recap Siskel & Ebert's infamous "If We Picked the Winners" Oscars episode from 1993 when the critics battled about "The Crying Game" and its notorious twist (27:53). For more on Matt's book, including where to purchase it, click here. To watch the Siskel & Ebert "If We Picked the Winners" episode discussed in this episode, head here. To hear Chris and Joyce Eng recap the 1993 Oscars ceremony and 1992 in film, check out our Oscars Playback episode here. Email us at slugfests@goldderby.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special free episode! (Wait: All the episodes are free.) A mid-week show, though, with Tim and Will talking to Matt Singer, author of the terrific book "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever." We discuss the show, film criticism, David Letterman and so much more. Enjoy! We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

Matt Singer, editor and film critic of ScreenCrush.com, joins Mark Reardon to discuss his new book titled "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever."

Hour 3: Mark Reardon welcomes singer Steve Poltz, who is playing tonight at forest Hills Country Club for Break Room Concerts. Then, Matt Singer, editor and film critic of ScreenCrush.com, joins Mark Reardon to discuss his new book is titled "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever." Later, Mark brings you the Audio Cut of the Day.

Mike talks with film critic Matt Singer about his latest book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever, which tracks the origins and evolution of the landmark film criticism show.Get your copy at https://amzn.to/49hjPuGBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-projection-booth-podcast_2/support.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5513239/advertisement

Mike talks with film critic Matt Singer about his latest book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever, which tracks the origins and evolution of the landmark film criticism show.Get your copy at https://amzn.to/49hjPuGThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5513239/advertisement

Adnan can't stop talking about Killers of the Flower Moon. Is there a single Marty Scorsese interview that Adnan hasn't heard? The Dan Le Batard Show Movie Knowledge Power Rankings. Adnan is traveling to the World Series. What exactly is “content”? It's never too early for an Oscars preview! Can Barbie get nominated for Best Picture? WIll Bradley Cooper join Cinephile? We talk to author Matt Singer about his new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever”. Chris reviews Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adnan can't stop talking about Killers of the Flower Moon. Is there a single Marty Scorsese interview that Adnan hasn't heard? The Dan Le Batard Show Movie Knowledge Power Rankings. Adnan is traveling to the World Series. What exactly is “content”? It's never too early for an Oscars preview! Can Barbie get nominated for Best Picture? WIll Bradley Cooper join Cinephile? We talk to author Matt Singer about his new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever”. Chris reviews Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's give it two thumbs up! Screencrush's Editor in Chief Matt Singer joins the podcast to discuss his new book Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever. Need I say more? Come listen!Buy Opposable ThumbsCheck out Matt on ScreenCrushSupport the show

Matt Singer is a film critic, entertainment journalist, and author — and his latest book is a real treat for all you nerds who listen to this nerdy show. “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever” is a combination of dual biography, media history, and film commentary, so he joins us to talk about his love for Siskel & Ebert, and how it led him to this book. And they were active during his year of choice, 1984, so Matt not only shares his thoughts on his top five, but Gene & Roger's as well.  Become a member for Bonus Episodes, personal stories of working in the industry, and yes - EVEN MORE MOVIES. https://plus.acast.com/s/a-very-good-year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with Matt Singer, author of "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lights-camera-author/support

I'm joined by Matt Singer this week, author of Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever. The book, out this Tuesday, is a wide-ranging look at the myriad ways in which Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel's seminal show—or, really, three shows, which ran across multiple networks over multiple decades—changed not only film criticism but film marketing as well. We talked about the introduction of the thumb system—which, shockingly, was not with the duo from the beginning—and why their genuinely antagonistic relationship hasn't really translated to the YouTube/podcast era of film criticism. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to share it with a friend!

Adam, Josh, and guest Matt Singer (“Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever”) wrangle with Gene and Roger over reviews of movies past.  -Interview: Matt Singer (06:13) -Top 5: Movies Siskel & Ebert Got Wrong (19:33) -Next Week / Notes / Massacre Theatre (01:20:10) -Top 5, cont (01:37:03) (Times may not be precise with ads) Notes/Links: Matt Singer “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever” Surprising Movies That Got Thumbs Down From Siskel & Ebert Josh's Fear Not! Talk at Facets, Chicago (10.28) Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support us: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and complete archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts (and more) on sale at the Filmspotting Shop. https://filmspotting.net/shop Contact us: https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting @filmspotting on Threads https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm @larsenonfilm on Threads https://twitter.com/larsenonfilm https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new book Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever hits shelves October 24th. Listen below as John Landecker talks to author Matt Singer about how Siskel and Ebert changed the film industry as we know it, why Matt decided to write this book, and a few interesting anecdotes about the dynamic duo […]

The Stuph File Program Featuring Kay Dean, founder of Fake Review Watch; G.S. Gerry, author of Hysterical Hangouts With The Hindlegs; & Stuart Nulman with Book Banter Download Kay Dean is the founder of Fake Review Watch, which searches the web for the plethora of fake product and services reviews that are out there.(Patreon Stuph File Program fans, there is a Patreon Reward Extra where Kay and I do a deeper dive into the world of fake reviews). G.S. Gerry is the author of Hysterical Hangouts With The Hindlegs, a novel that plays out like a reality TV show and heightens the aspect of meeting your new love's parents. Stuart Nulman with another edition of Book Banter, this week featuring the new Fall releases that you'll want to add to your reading list. The titles are: Holly by Stephen King (Scribner's) Surely You Can't Be Serious by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams & Jerry Zucker (St. Martin's Press) Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons by Charlotte Gray (Simon & Schuster) The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson and the Making of Modern Canada by John Ibbotson (Penguin) Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer (Penguin)  You can also read Stuart's reviews in The Montreal Times.  Now you can listen to selected items from The Stuph File Program on the new audio service, Audea. A great way to keep up with many of the interviews from the show and take a trip down memory lane to when this show began back in 2009, with over 800 selections to choose from! This week's guest slate is presented by cartoonist Wayno, who draws the weekday version of the legendary comic strip, Bizarro.

Watching Siskel & Ebert argue was just as entertaining as movies themselves.