RIP Roger Ebert (1942-2013)

It was a truly sad today when everyone found out that legendary film critic Roger Ebert had died at the age of 70 after years of cancer-related health issues. He was synonymous with not only film criticism, but the movies themselves as many budding cinephiles such as myself looked to his reviews, both on TV or in print, to gauge whether or not we should see the latest films. I don't always agree with his stance, but I always appreciated his general love for the movies. I still remember fondly looking forward to his show with Gene Siskel and whether or not they've given it a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

It's especially fitting that Ebert was afforded the opportunity to pen a sort of goodbye to his fans on his blog entitled "A Leave of Presence," which was posted only two days ago. In it, Ebert informed his readers his decision to cut down in writing reviews due to his cancer coming back.

Thank you. Forty-six years ago on April 3, 1967, I became the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter.  However you came to know me, I'm glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.

[...] So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies.

Thumbs up for you, Roger Ebert.

Birthday Hotties: Adam Scott & Jamie Bamber

I had no idea until today that Adam Scott and Jamie Bamber share not only a birthday, but they're actually the same age and both of them turn, wait for it, 40 this year. Apparently 40 is the new sexy or something.

Scott stars as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation one of my favorite shows out right now. His chemistry with Amy Poehler was palpable from their first episode together back in the end of the show's second season culminating to one of the best relationships on TV the past few years. Suffice to say, their wedding episode killed me. With their relationship as strong as Parks likely future on the network, I'm looking forward to seeing more of them! Not surprisingly (since he's worked in the business for nearly two decades now), Parks isn't the first TV show I had seen Scott in. In fact, I still fondly remember his four-episode stint on Boy Meets World back in the mid 90s as the too-cool-for-school leader of the bullies. He has also appeared in Party of Five and a bit more recently in Party Down. He has appeared in numerous films like Friends with Kids, Leap Year, Bachelorete, and The Aviator.

As for Bamber, he will forever be Lee "Apollo" Adama from Battlestar Galactica with his penchant for sleeveless shirts,  towels, and severe daddy issues. While his character wasn't my favorite, he was probably the actor I most enjoyed watching and not just because of the obvious eye candy. When I found out after the fact that he was British, it's like my world flipped upside down. Suddenly I discovered that he starred in a bunch of Horatio Hornblower TV movies on the other side of the pond. After Galactica ended, he went back to England to star in Law & Order: UK starring alongside another Freema Agyeman, another sci-fi actor I admire. I really wished I had seen more of that show. But remember when BBC America aired both Galactica and Law & Order? They had real fun with Bamber's Secret Britishness in ads. He did a few more guest stars on American TV, but his biggest job since is being one of the leads on TNT's Monday Mornings as a neurosurgeon. The show's future is a little less sure, but I'm confident that no matter what happens Bamber will continue to get jobs either here or in Britain.