Movie fans rejoice! The man whose raised thumb has helped bolster thousands of big screen blockbusters is back in action.
After more than a year’s absence Roger Ebert says he will resume writing movie reviews later this month. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic will not be able to rejoin his syndicated TV show yet because he’s still unable to speak.
The co-host of TV’s “Ebert & Roeper” made the announcement in a letter published in Tuesday’s Chicago Sun-Times (the same paper where his movie reviews appear). Ebert’s letter explained that a recent surgery he underwent ended in complications and he would have to endure yet another operation to regain his ability to speak.
Another operation?
This poor man has spent the better half of the last decade in the hospital.
The movie critic’s health issues began in 2002 when he diagnosed with cancer. Back then Ebert underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor on his thyroid gland. That was followed by two more operations to rid his salivary gland of cancerous cells. Then, in 2006 he went back under the knife again to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. And just when Ebert thought he was on the road to recovery he was rushed to the hospital to have emergency surgery after a blood vessel burst near the site of his pervious operation.
Still, the resilient writer says he is thrilled to be cancer-free, and will take some time enjoying the return to his day job before he settles on a date for his next surgery.
But Ebert’s return to his movie column is not the only thing he has to look forward to. The 65-year-old says he is counting down the days until his annual film festival. The 10th annual Ebertfest at the University of Illinois kicks off on April 23rd and will feature more than a dozen films this year. Ebert says once the film festival wraps up he will resume writing movie reviews shortly thereafter.
I’m happy to see Ebert is getting back to doing what he does best. I’ve been following his health struggles for a while now and can’t wait to see what movie he picks to pan first. I’m also curious to read his reviews of the upcoming Harry Potter sequels and Oliver Stone’s yet-to-be-released epic “W.,” which chronicles the life and times of President George W. Bush.
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