For the bad things that have come with technology, this is really cool.
As we noted, Roger Ebert will be on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show" later today, showcasing his new electronic voice (complications from thyroid cancer stole his speech), culled from audio clips of his DVD commentaries.
Here's a sneak peak, and it's pretty amazing:
First of all, if you haven't read Chris Jones's stunning profile of Roger Ebert in February's Esquire magazine, read it right now.
Then you'll understand how amazing it is that Ebert is appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" tomorrow afternoon and that he'll be unveiling his new computerized voice, Roger Jr.
On today's installment, I talk to Daniel Johnson, Chapel Hill film blogger and former employer of a recently shut-down independent theater in his neighborhood. I talk to him about the closing of that theater as well as his not-yet-finished book of conspiracy movies. And, somehow, I also manage to explain Armond White to him, which, somehow, ends up with me defending the man. I don't remember how we got there, but it happened.
We also establish that Roger Ebert is still a pimp. Just thought you should know. You can also download it here.
FRIDAY: Getting into it about "Gigli" with the former owner of a lower-back tattoo.
For those who think one of the titans of contemporary film criticism has gone soft because of his health issues ought to read this open-letter smackdown he gives to his former Chicago Sun-Times colleague, resigned sportswriter Jay Mariotti, for talking trash about the newspaper business during a TV interview. We're talking a good-ol', back-handed, class ring-wearing, you've-been-out-on-the-street-all-night-and-all-you-got-is-a-lousy-$20 jackslapping here.
In the letter, Ebert represents not only for his paper, but for the daily newspaper in general:
"Newspapers are not dead, Jay, because there are still readers who want the whole story, not a sound bite. If you only work on television, viewers may get a little weary of you shouting at them. You were a great shouter in print, that's for sure, stomping your feet when owners, coaches, players and fans didn't agree with you. It was an entertaining show. Good luck getting one of your 1,000-word rants on the air."
See, I told you the boy still has some fire left in him. And I thought giving props to this DOA flick was the gutsiest thing he's done recently.
