Film Critic Roger Ebert Scales Back Work As Cancer Returns

Ebert wrote Tuesday that he will begin writing select reviews but "I am not going away"

Roger Ebert announced this week he will scale back film critic duties at the Chicago Sun-Times as he battles cancer again.

Ebert wrote in a blog Tuesday night that he plans to cut down on his workload but will continue writing some reviews. He also ensured fans that Ebertfest, his annual film festival in Champaign, Ill., will go on April 17-21 as scheduled and that he continues to work with filmmakers on a documentary of his life.

In a column titled "Leave of Presence," Ebert said a recent "painful fracture" turned out to be cancer and must be treated with radiation, forcing him to limit the number of movies he attends.

Still, he said, "I am not going away."

"My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me," he said. "What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review."

Ebert was hospitalized in the fall with a broken hip, of which his wife tweeted was caused by "tricky disco dance moves." Last May he unveiled plans to reinvent "Roger Ebert Presents at The Movies" on PBS, and Tuesday he said he will launch a fundraising campaign via Kickstarter in the next couple weeks.

Ebert left the show in 2006 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer, which cost him the use of his voice.

"It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital. So on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness."

As Ebert heads into the next stage of treatment, he thanked his fans and signed off Tuesday, "I'll see you at the movies."
 

Contact Us