The film world was left in mourning today with the loss of Roger Ebert, easily the planet's most respected and well-known film critic, passing away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 70. He was a figure of inspiration for many journalists wanting to get into the industry (myself included; from a young age I'd read his reviews every week without fail), and had that uncanny ability to completely enthrall you with his reasoned wit even when you didn't agree with his opinions. That is the sign of a great critic, and unsurprisingly as a result, Ebert is distinguished as the first film critic to win a Pullitzer Prize. The respect held for him is evident from the outpour of tributes from figures as prominent as Steven Spielberg and Barack Obama. It's a testament to the man's stature and talent that we'd even consider looking at the controversial times the critic went against the tide, and it was certainly something he wasn't afraid to do. Ebert was famously called out for his 3-star (out of 4) review of Paul Blart: Mall Cop for instance, but each time he stood by his work and would often even continue the discourse with fans on his website. Every so often, he would re-visit a film and find his opinion changed - he re-reviewed Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny once it was re-edited after Cannes and gave it a positive notice - demonstrating his humility in the course of providing us with the most intelligent and thoughtful film criticism on the net or in print. Here are 5 of Ebert's most contentious reviews, 5 that go totally against the grain, and yet still manage to be fascinating reads all in of themselves. Whether we agreed with you all the time or not, we'll miss youa Hell of a lot, Roger...
5. The Raid (1 Star)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My02wp9fsho
Majority Verdict: "No frills and all thrills, The Raid: Redemption is an inventive action film expertly paced and edited for maximum entertainment", with an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was widely regarded as one of the best action films of 2012, and was a considerable box office success.
Ebert's Review: Ebert acknowledges the film's critical popularity, and goes on to assert that "I have no prejudice against violence when I find it in a well-made film. But this film is almost brutally cynical in its approach". Furthermore, ever keen to include video gamers - with whom he has had an infamous on-off relationship - he calls The Raid "a visualized video game that spares the audience the inconvenience of playing it". It's an interesting review because Ebert basically goes against his own princples but concedes the point himself; he's always remarked that a film should be judged on what it sets out to achieve, and though he accepts the brutal efficiency of the piece, he also apparently thinks it's just too cynical a product to pass his usual test. Though the review attracted a fair degree of heated debate, it's still as enjoyable to read as any of Ebert's work, particularly this hilarious zinger - "As the enemy falls, another springs into position from around corner, ready to be demolished in turn. Then another. It's like they're being ejected by an automatic victim dispenser."