By Chris Rennirt
“For me, no other art form touches life the way the movies do…because they take us inside the lives of other people. When the movie is really working, we have an out of the body experience…and I’m not talking [about] the psychic network. You’re so wrapped up in the story that you really aren’t aware of where your car is parked, where you’re going to have dinner, what’s going to happen tomorrow. You only care about what’s going to happen to those people next. When that happens, it gives us an empathy for other people who are there on the screen that is more sharp and more effective and powerful than any other other art form.” ~ Roger Ebert
Recently, I watched a 1996 interview with Roger Ebert conducted by Charlie Rose. In the interview, Charlie Rose – the now infamous journalist, news anchor, and talk-show host of Charlie Rose on PBS (1991 – 2017) – asks Roger Ebert (at the 7:25 mark of the interview) about something he said describing the power of movies and what the best of them do for us. “For me,” Rose quotes Ebert, “no other art form touches life the way the movies do.” Ebert quickly adds, “…because they take us inside the lives of other people. When the movie is really working, we have an out-of-the-body experience…and I’m not talking [about] the psychic network,” Ebert stresses.
Immediately after Ebert explains his meaning for “out-of-the-body,” Rose starts laughing and says, “You’ve seen too many movies, Roger,” as if it’s a crazy statement, alluding to a paranormal “out-of-body” experience Ebert already insisted he did not reference. “No, I haven’t [seen too many movies],” Ebert insists. “Has this ever happened to you? Come on, Charlie.” Ebert continues, “You’re so wrapped up in the story that you really aren’t aware of where your car is parked, where you’re going to have dinner, what’s going to happen tomorrow. You only care about what’s going to happen to those people next. When that happens, it gives us an empathy for other people who are there on the screen that is more sharp and more effective and powerful than any other other art form.”
As if Rose’s joke and laughter aren’t enough already, he continues with a followup question, misquoting Ebert’s analogy (I believe intentionally). “When did you last feel that: ‘an out-of-body experience,'” asks Mr. Rose, leaving out the word “the” from Roger’s”out-of-the-body” reference, laughing yet again, continuing the joke. Roger politely stresses the missing “the” in the quote, repeating “out-of-the body experience,” proceeding to eloquently explain (as he always did) his true thoughts in greater depth.
After giving additional examples of his meaning, Roger finally relents, saying, “Out-of-the-body experience is probably an unfortunate phrase,” as Rose laughs yet again! The only thing “unfortunate” here is Rose and his asinine behavior.
Wow! In addition to being a pervert and abuser of women (as news reports proved earlier; just Google that.), Mr. Rose is also an incredible ass of a human being, showing little talent for conducting interviews and even less respect for those he interviews. I have never liked his style of interviewing people. His habit of laughing at those he interviews (and laughing at anything too long), like he does with Roger Ebert here, is obnoxious as well as rude.
Why am I writing an article about a 24-year-old interview? It started out as a pleasant evening listening to Roger Ebert Youtube videos, as I often do, taking in his wise advise and philosophy about movies. Happening upon Roger’s profound words in the interview would have been enough to make my time productive. With that alone, I would have thought more about movies as exceptional art. Hopefully, I might have gotten a little better at what I aspire to do myself – reviewing movies in the best, most honest way possible, appreciating the best of them for what they really are.
“An out-of-the-body experience,” is it? Hell yes, Mr. Rose! It certainly is! Roger was absolutely correct with his original words. How stupid of you, Mr. Rose, it is to laugh about it, as I hear you laughing, finally, 24 years later. Youtube videos for posterity are, indeed, the darndest things! Fools they make us forever! Perhaps, instead, you’ve had a few too many…interviews! Unfortunately, seeing how it all ended for you, I don’t think you learned much.
Of course, I wish Roger had stood his ground with his wise analogy, telling Charlie to his face, with confidence, “Out-of-body, absolutely…and I mean every word of it!” (I might have even enjoyed seeing Roger laugh back.) After all, aren’t the best of movies just that: experiences that take us out of ourselves, out of our thoughts, worries, needs and wants of the moment, taking us somewhere else – somewhere to think about, worry about, want for, and feel empathy for others? Of course they are! Yes, Roger! You were right from the start. The best movies are, indeed, just as you said (and despite Mr. Rose’s laughs) – the greatest most “out-of-the-body” experiences imaginable!
Chris Rennirt (the author of this article) is a movie critic and writer in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as editor in chief at Space Jockey Reviews. He has been a judge at many film festivals, including Macabre Faire Film Festival and Crimson Screen Film Fest, and he attends horror and sci-fi conventions often. Chris’ movie reviews, articles, and interviews are published regularly on Space Jockey Reviews and in Effective Magazine. His mission statement (describing his goals as a movie critic and philosophy for review writing) can be found on the “Mission” page, here at SJR. For more information about Chris Rennirt (including contact details, publicity photos, and more), click here.
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