Two thumbs down

I've never much cared for film critic Roger Ebert. No, I don't know the man personally. But I've watched his shtick on TV since he was doling out movie reviews on the syndicated program Sneak Previews in the 1970s. And I've always sensed this pomposity emanating from him, as if he had some sort of extra sensory gift which made his film critiques the gospel, so we dare not question his insights.

The fact the Rog is a political liberal doesn't bother me in the least (Heck, I bet he was practically fondling himself when reviewing such films as Fahrenheit 9/11 and Charlie Wilson's War). These days when one criticizes print media journalists for being leftists, it's a rather tedious exercise. What's the point really?

But what I have sensed from Ebert is that he is such an unhinged lefty that his political analysis contains zero nuance, to the point of being humorous. When Scott Brown shocked the world in January 2010 by becoming the first GOP Senator in Massachusetts in over thirty years, Rog pitched a fit. On his Twitter page on the night of the Massachusetts special election, Ebert's "tweet" insinuated that the Democrats and other supporters of health care (the golden issue in Sen. Ted Kennedy's political career) had some sort of birthright to that Senate seat:

Massachusetts to Teddy: "F--k you."

What, no insights on how the Massachusetts citizens delivered a repudiation of President Obama's health care plan with this vote? No analysis on how Brown's opponent Martha Coakley was utterly inept? Easier to deliver a two-word invective I guess.

But Ebert's latest foray into political commentary was to weigh in on Senator John McCain's opposition to repealing the military policy on homosexuals serving in the armed forces (a/k/a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell.") Again, with zero rational dissent, Ebert gave his perspective:

McCain's redesign of Marine flag: Reword "Don't Tread on Me" to read, "Get Off My Lawn, Faggots!"

Of course, this could just be another lesson for Senator McCain. Remember how he was the liberal establishments' favorite Republican because of his willingness to "stand up to his obstructionist party" by "reaching across the aisle"? It just goes to show that leftists admire one's convictions, but only if said beliefs falls in line with their own.

But I digress.

I get the feeling that Ebert can't distinguish between simple analysis of movies from commentary of any other ilk. Real life issues are a lot more complicated and nuanced than to merely assign them a hand gesture.

------------------------------------------------