New Delhi: Roger Ebert reviewed thousands of films over the years, influencing moviegoers across the country with his uncomplicated, yet intelligent reviews that were breezy and often quotable. Along with fellow film critic Gene Siskel, Ebert, who died on Thursday at the age of 70, created and made famous the thumbs-up, thumbs-down style of reviews. Here are excerpts of some of his memorable reviews for both film classics as well as movie duds.
Thumbs up:
Casablanca, 1941
There are greater movies. More profound movies. Movies of greater artistic vision or artistic originality or political significance. There are other titles we would put above it on our lists of the best films of all time. But when it comes right down to the movies we treasure the most, when we are - let us imagine - confiding in the secrets of our heart to someone we think we may be able to trust, the conversations sooner or later comes around to the same seven words:...
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10:51 AM, Apr 05, 2013
New York: Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio is the co-owner of the piano used in the classic movie 'Casablanca' after he teamed up with a billionaire friend to buy the memorable item. The instrument was used by actor Dooley Wilson in the 1942 movie as he performed on the famous song 'As Time Goes By'. The piano went under the hammer at Sotheby's in New York for USD 600,000. The 'Titanic'...
01:07 PM, Dec 17, 2012
New York: The piano used for the song 'As Times Goes By' in the classic 1942 film 'Casablanca' has fetched more than USD 600,000 at auction. The 58-key upright was sold to an unidentified buyer for USD 602,500 at Sotheby's here, reported Huffington Post. Its pre-sale estimate was up to USD 1.2 million. It was offered by a Japanese collector on the film's 70th anniversary. The collector purchased the movie...
11:34 AM, Dec 16, 2012
London: An American producer is planning to bring a sequel to 'Casablanca', the beloved 1942 Hollywood classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in their most famous roles. The film, whose lines like 'Here's looking at you kid' and 'Play it again, Sam' are still quoted by film lovers, revolved around two star-crossed lovers -- Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund -- who reunite in 'Casablanca' during the World-War II only...
07:23 PM, Nov 05, 2012
![Sharadiya Dasgupta]( "Sharadiya Dasgupta")
Why in Christ's name would I want to write about love now, of all times? As Rick would say "With the whole world crumbling, we ...
01:23 PM, Aug 20, 2011
Marrakesh: An explosion killed 14 people, including foreigners, on Thursday in a busy cafe in the Moroccan tourist destination of Marrakesh, and authorities said the initial signs were that it was a criminal act. The blast ripped through the second storey of a cafe overlooking Marrakesh's Jamaa el-Fnaa square, a spot that is usually bustling with foreign tourists and local vendors. Officials did not say if they suspected the involvement...
08:37 PM, Apr 28, 2011
Casablanca: Thousands took to the streets of Morocco on Sunday in peaceful demonstrations to demand sweeping reforms and an end to political detention, the third day of mass protests since they began in February. Desperate to avoid the turmoil that toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, authorities have already announced some reforms to placate demands that King Mohammed cede more powers and limit the monarchy's extensive business influence. Some 10,000...
07:39 PM, Apr 24, 2011
Rabat: Thousands of people marched in Moroccan cities on Sunday demanding King Mohammed VI give up some of his powers. In Moroccan capital Rabat, police allowed protesters, raising slogans like "The people reject a constitution made for slaves", to approach parliament, the BBC reported. A separate protest is under way in the country's biggest city, Casablanca, and another was planned in Marrakesh, the report said. Sunday's rallies in Morocco have...
11:22 PM, Feb 20, 2011
Sydney: Ecstatic after taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead over India, Australia captain Michael Clarke said he might field an all-pace attack in the third Test to bounce the visitors out of the series at the dreaded Perth track. Australia beat India by 122 runs and an innings and 68 runs in the first two Tests to go 2-0 up in the four-match series. Clarke was already looking forward to the...
10:09 AM, Apr 08, 2008
Melbourne: Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) will honour the Australian spin legend Shane Warne by unveiling a bronze statue of his on Thursday outside the MCG for his achievements and contribution to the game of cricket. Warne will be immortalised in a bronze statue outside the MCG, joining 10 other Australian sports stars. Warne, who returned to cricket after signing on with the Melbourne Stars in the new Twenty20 Big Bash,...
12:20 AM, Apr 02, 2008
Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board may claim to be facing financial difficulties but this has not prevented its officials from spending lavishly on administrative expenses and salaries. According to documents submitted by the board in the national assembly in response to questions put forward by some members, it has transpired that the PCB presently employs 523 officials in different grades. For a country faced with security issues and with little...
11:49 AM, Jan 29, 2008
