Riske Business: The Best of Ebertfest 2014

Last week I attended the 16th annual Ebertfest in Champaign, Illinois for the first time ever. Instead of an exhaustive account of the event, I’m bringing you my top 15 highlights followed by 7-word reviews of the 11 movies I saw -- plus my favorite quotes from the festival.

Like You Were There: Ebertfest 2011 (Day Four) (JB's Take)

JB is taking over Like You Were There this week, as he reports daily from Champaign, Illinois, while attending Roger Ebert's annual film festival, Ebertfest.

It had to happen. It happens almost every year at Ebertfest -- a film so good, so well intentioned, so meaningful that it puts all of one’s petty gripes and snarkiness to shame. A film that conquers cynicism
with talent, heart and intellect. That film is A Small Act, a moving documentary by Jennifer Arnold. At its conclusion there was not a dry eye in the house.

Like You Were There: Ebertfest 2011 (Day Three) (JB's Take)

JB is taking over Like You Were There this week, as he reports daily from Champaign, Illinois, while attending Roger Ebert's annual film festival, Ebertfest.

On the advice of my therapist, I will no longer comment on the line...

Like You Were There: Ebertfest 2011 (Day Two) (JB's Take)

JB is taking over Like You Were There this week, as he reports daily from Champaign, Illinois, while attending Roger Ebert's annual film festival, Ebertfest.
 
Day Two of Ebertfest begins with much nicer weather to stand in line. It is actually sunny, and it is not raining. Here we have a little parable for people who care way way way way too much about where they sit in the theatre. Our little group got in line at about 10 o'clock; doors open at noon. This means we stand in line for about two hours. Lo and behold, they open the doors at noon on the dot, and what follows is a middle-aged buffalo stampede (pretty slow up those steps to the balcony!) in order to get THE SEATS. Avid moviegoers grab their idea of prime real estate and...

Like You Were There: Ebertfest 2011 (Day One) (JB's Take)

JB is taking over Like You Were There this week, as he reports daily from Champaign, Illinois, while attending Roger Ebert's annual film festival, Ebertfest.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to stand out in the rain, but I was able to remember this afternoon because 1) Ebertfest is traditionally held on the coldest, wettest weekend of the year in Champaign, Illinois (this year a bonus tornado warning was thrown in at no extra charge!) and 2) Ebert has long ago dismissed the possibility of reserved seats, which would eliminate this pneumonia-baiting tradition.