I could go on and on, and on, about Roger Ebert, who died today. I never had the opportunity to meet him, and I regret that.

Just a few quick thoughts, an emotional response to what feels like a huge loss to the American arts/criticism scene:

Ebert’s television work with Gene Siskel was so entertaining, and so inspiring in terms of bringing the concept of film criticism (or one version of it) to the public in a major way.

His writing, particularly early on, was often quite insightful — he knew so much about film, and wrote so intelligently about it, and in such a straightforward, clear manner that I can’t imagine any serious film lover not warming to him.

I so admired Ebert’s energy, productivity and honesty as a writer, and, recently, his bravery and fortitude in the face of so many physical challenges.

I had hoped against hope that he would survive this latest crisis. But it was not to be.

He leaves a huge hole.

More here, from the New York Times