Nevertheless, a Roger Ebert fantasy is almost as good.  Ugh... Who am I kidding?  No it isn't.  Keira and Monica are both far cuter than Roger.  (Sorry to break the news, Roger).

A few days ago, I was catching up on my internet browsing after a month exiled in the Nevada desert trying to win my first World Series of Poker Bracelet.  (Where, coincidentally, I played a poker tournament with Richard Roeper at my table). 

I checked my email.  I checked my own websites.  I checked ESPN.  I checked myspace.  I checked natalieportman.com.  I checked youtube.  I checked everyonesacritic.net.  I checked the IMDb.  I checked all my favorites.  One of the many on my daily website checklist is that of Roger Ebert -- our greatest living film critic.  His career is that of legend.  Roger is to film criticism what Michael Jordan is to basketball -- what De Niro is to acting -- what Dolly Parton is to breasts -- what I am to scoring heavy with the babes -- what this sentence is to gratuitous praise.

I click. I read. I click some more. I read. I scan. I browse. I read my name.  I ignore it.  I continue reading. I think for a moment. I what???  Back-track... back-track... there it is!!!  My name?  What the heck is my name doing there?

Well it just so happens that Mr. Roger Ebert (Sir Roger if he was British) had taken the time to quote me in one of his columns.  Actually, to make things even stranger, he was quoting me quoting him and then, quite humorously, agreeing with his own quote.

Quite frankly, as they were his words, he was under no obligation to mention me at all -- although I am delighted that he did.  He went out of his way to reference a comparatively unknown film critic, from the murky depths of internet anonymity, simply because he wanted to.

To some, this may not seem like a big deal.  To a guy, like me, who considers himself a student of the great writer, it was a massive moment.  Just the fact that he visited this site of ours means a lot to the three of us (Richard Propes, Jacob Hall & I).  It was probably his first visit to IndependentCritics -- I hope it won't be his last.  It may or may not amount to much in terms of increased website hits or added readership in the long run... but it is a gesture that reinforces everything I think about Roger Ebert.

Aside from being one of the greatest writers of the last fifty years, in this field or any other, I have always thought of Roger as a champion of the little guy.  He is happy to skip past the mega-blockbusters to give attention where it is truly deserved.  He relentlessly bolsters the hopes of young directors with talent.  He continuously gives praise to those who can't quite carve it out in other venues because they aren't a big enough 'name'.  He has invited guest hosts onto his TV show.  He has given time and energy to promote small films, small names & small websites.  That is something special in a time when most in the media are more concerned with big-draw celebrities and multi-million dollar projects.

I am eternally grateful for that small gesture in his recent column.  It comes at a time when Roger has been recovering successfully from major surgery.  I can't wait for him to be back on a full schedule -- teaching, inspiring, championing.

I wish you all the best Mr. Ebert.  Thank you for the quote that wasn't really a quote at all.  All you have to do is mention my name about a million more times and we will be even.

I hope to meet you in Toronto this fall... or perhaps in Sundance in January.  Maybe it will have to wait until your next Cinema Interruptus or the next Overlooked Film Festival.  Either way... the only thing better than a mention in one of your columns would be a face to face chat about the latest movies.  I might even put that above the Keira and Monica things.

Nah.  I probably wouldn't.