Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was an American film critic, journalist, and author who spent much of his career in Chicago. He wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013, and became one of the best-known voices writing about film for a general audience. In 1975, he was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.

Ebert’s writing is known for being direct, readable, and personal in tone. The available information points to a style that makes film ideas and close analysis feel accessible rather than academic. He was also especially open to foreign and independent cinema, and he wrote about directors such as Werner Herzog, Errol Morris, Spike Lee, and Martin Scorsese, which gives a good sense of his range.

A good place to start is The Great Movies, especially if you want an approachable entry into his way of thinking about cinema. It suits readers who want criticism that is clear, conversational, and grounded in specific films rather than theory-heavy language. If you are looking for an easy first step into Ebert’s work, this is the most obvious place to begin.