This past Sunday, At The Movies broadcast its last show. This was a sad day for me. Even though the hosts have changed, I have been an avid fan and faithfully viewer for as long as I can remember. Shit, for some 24 years or so.
I am not sure when I discovered the show, but when I did, I was hooked. It was sometime in the 80's. Sunday mornings in Detroit, after Michigan Replay (another show gone--boo), and before This Week when David Brinkley hosted the show, I would watch every week. When I went to college, I forced my dorm mates to watch; when I moved into an apartment, all my roommates watched. When I moved to a new state, one of the first things I did--even before changing my driver's license--I would look for its broadcast time. I have always watched the show, no matter where in the US I found myself. I loved the show.
I remember when Gene Siskel passed away and was sincerely sadden. I remember when he reviewed films from the hospital on the phone. I bumped into a friend after he died and somehow we got to talking about the show and Gene--I found out he was sad, too.
What drew me into the show was the basic idea--two critics evaluating films. I loved this concept. Still do, really. I also loved when Gene and Roger disagreed, which occurred often. One of the favorite shows was the review of Full Metal Jacket. They disagreed mightily on that film, and it was awesome TV. I saw the film and agreed with Gene on that one.
I think it was Siskel & Ebert that introduced me to documentaries--now my favorite film genre. This was Gene's opinion, and I must confess that he was correct. Good documentaries are better than good "traditional" films. That was one the reasons I enjoyed the show so much. It introduced me to films that received no advertising and that I would have not know about otherwise. I did not watch just to mindlessly follow their opinions--no I really liked learning about the "small" movies coming out.
For my entire adult life and most of my teens, I have faithfully watched the show despite all the host changes. I even liked Richard Roper and the last dual Michel Phillips and A.O. Scott. The two Bens, not so much. But I still watched.
I will miss the show and have read that Roger is planning another movie review show. I look forward to that show. I guess until then, the balcony is truly closed.
