Gene Siskel: A Critic for Life

"Two Thumbs Up!" These three words are among the most powerful and remembered words in American history. They have been long since associated with the movies--they could make or break the film. Whether it be for the appropriately lauded Saving Private Ryan or the questionable Speed 2, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert became household names for their two thumbs. Enough has been said about their past--you can find how they established themselves anywhere on the Internet. Instead, I would like to reflect on how Siskel & Ebert influenced me, and how the loss of Siskel will prove hard to handle.

On Saturday, February 20, 1999, I awoke as usual, late in the afternoon. I hopped online and jump onto one of my favorite chatrooms. Inside, I was to learn the horrible truth. The words came across the screen like a slap in the face: "Isn't it so sad about Siskel?" At first, I wasn't sure what to think. I thought they were commenting on the fact that Siskel had departed from the show for the rest of the season. But alas, it was not. Someone else asked what he was referring to, and he replied, "Siskel died last night." My first thought was to laugh--it was obviously some cruel prank. But then, he sent me the web address for USA Today's website. There, in small, underlined letters were the words that made my heart ache: Gene Siskel dies at age 53.

I'm well known for my sentimentality, yet have an uncanny lack of emotion to death in real life. Just three days earlier, I had learned that my friend's grandfather died, just two weeks after her grandmother passed away. As uncaring as it sounds, it hardly affected me. Yet, I knew them well, and my lack of emotion bothered me. Then, I heard that Siskel passed away, and I cried. I realize I wasn't crying for Siskel, but for everyone that had died recently. It was pent-up emotions, and the loss of Siskel came as a serious blow to me as a critic. After all, he and fellow critic Ebert had long inspired me to become a critic. To hear that one of the pair had passed on... it was hard to deal with.

I didn't know him... not at all. I've never met him, but for some reason, I felt that I knew him well enough through his writing. It was personal and genuine, something many critics seem to lack. Siskel had such a profound impact on the film industry that will never be replaced. He helped bring film criticism to the mainstream, with the popular show Siskel & Ebert (which went through several name changes). His love for film was overwhelming, but it never surpassed the love he had for his family. You could see it in his face. His eyes would brighten whenever he was with his family. I've only seen them a couple times, and only on TV. But those few moments linger in my memory.

As I write this, his death is well-publicized. Many of the articles seem more like heartless reports, and I suppose they are. The fact that Gene Siskel died is quite tragic, but even moreso is the knowledge that he is irreplacable. No one could ever take his place. The TV show will go on, at least for the time being. What will happen to it is still in question. Roger Ebert, my inspiration for film criticism, has stated that even he is unsure of the future of the show. What will happen to the iconographic term "Two Thumbs Up?" It was a symbol of quality, and any advertiser touted the review as a prize. Just hearing those three words could boost the box office performance of the film. His 1998 choice for best film of the year, Babe: Pig in the City, was dashed at the box office. It made little of its budget back. With Siskel's death, the film may be able to pick up quite a lot of money from rentals. As heartless as this sounds, one could consider he died for his cause. Audiences will love to see the last movie he named Best Film of the Year. Capitalizing on his death is wrong, and yet I believe he would have wanted it this way--that he helped get the film he loved so much some worthy recognition.

The Online Film Critics Society would not be around if it weren't for Siskel. He and Ebert helped make our own jobs worthwhile. While many of us are hardly as profound or as truthful in stating our opinions, we all love him. Many of us will never meet him, and the heartache of that knowledge is felt throughout the membership. I call him a friend, despite never having met him. He was a genius--a writer of criticism that sometimes made people angry, and other times made people rejoice. Whether or not you agreed, you almost had to respect him. After all, he saw more movies in one year than many will see in their entire lives. He has been taken from this planet too early. No one was ready for the news--he never let his pain show. He is a hero to every critic. Frankly, I can't think of anything else more noble.

As I write this, I am on the verge of tears. Siskel was more than just a movie critic--he was a mentor. His love for film was palpable. The relationship between Siskel and Ebert was present on screen as they continuously bickered with each other--sometimes supporting each other, sometimes criticizing each other. They were true friends in real life. One could see the arguments on television as more of a friendly debate. Sometimes it got heated, but they always had fun. Siskel is a cultural icon, no matter which way you look at it. He'll never be replaced, and he'll be hard to forget. His writing is ingrained in history. He will go down as one of the best film critics who ever lived. I respect him and his contributions. He will be missed.

IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE of GENE SISKEL (1946-1999)

As did Roger Ebert, I give him "Two Thumbs Up, Way Up" Thanks for all you gave us.