"The only thing he loved more than movies"
When Casey and I saw Life Itself, there probably wasn't a dry eye in the house. We were all moved, I think, not by the picture of a man who was dying but of one who loved life.
We laughed-out-loud and sniffled quietly together at the moments Ebert shared with us and the filmmaker. This is the experience that I crave, and thanks to Mr. Ebert, I feel justified in expecting it more often. When movies try to bait the audience into these reactions with tactless cliche or cheap "humor" I feel cheated out of that experience (not to mention the going price of the movie ticket.)
I discovered the most powerful aspect of cinema is its ability to resonate the heart-strings of a room full of strangers in spontaneous unison.
According to the documentary, Roger Ebert believed that everyone should be able to "get" a movie. Inspired by this concept, the point of going to the movies finally sunk into my misanthropic brain. Cinema as an art form is so intimately human, and art that survives the test of time must exemplify something universally human.
So...
In the spirit of exploring what it means to be who we are, my good friend Casey and I have designated this space and a few hours each week to just enjoy some classic films.
The mission: to share the age-old art of storytelling in a beautiful, dynamic form with good company and perhaps some tasty homemade concessions along the way. Personally, I cannot wait to bust out the hot-air popcorn popper.
