Siskel & Ebert: 2-6-99

Note: "I gotta say, Gene. It's lonely without you!" This is the first episode without Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert is all alone in the balcony. Not to mention, the only episode (as opposed to the last "At The Movies" episode with Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott with the "See It/Skip It/Rent It" rating recap) not featuring a "Thumbs Up/Down" rating recap. The next episode did. So, it's rather devastating and confusing at the same time.

Roger Ebert reviews "Payback" (An awesome action thriller based on the original "Point Blank" with Lee Marvin and Director, John Boorman. Starring: Mel Gibson as a slick and tough thief who wants $70 grand as a deal with his partner turned traitor and his wife, left him almost dead and gets his revenge! Also stars Gregg Henry, David Paymer, Lucy Liu, Maria Bello, Kris Krisofferson and James Coburn.); "She's All That" (One of those formulaic teen romantic comedies of the late 90s that leaves a very sour taste in my mouth! A modern William Shakesphere's tale, "Pygmalion" where a jockey popular boy in high school who just got dumped by his girlfriend by a jerk, makes a bet to turn a shy, intelligent girl into a beauty queen. Starring: Freddy Prinze, Jr. whose just forgettable in my opinion and Rachel Leigh Cook in her breakout and great performance at least. Also stars, Paul Walker, Matthew Lillard, Usher Raymond, Anna Paquin, Kieran Culkin, Elden Henson and Kevin Pollak.); "Rushmore" (Wes Anderson's brilliant comedy in sort of a take on "The Graduate" where a teenage boy falls in love with an older teacher and gets in a battle complication with his father to woo her. Disagree with Ebert on this one despite of his points. Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson.); "Simply Irresistible" (A sappy romantic fantasy comedy about a young chef woman who tries to save the family's restaurant after her mother's death, was given a magical crab by a mysterious man as an ingredient and gives the special ability to attract the customers. Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar from "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer", Sean Patrick Flannery, Patricia Clarkson, Amanda Peet and Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. Directed By: Mark Tarlov. Regency's first film to be distributed by 20th Century Fox after Warner Bros. left (except "The Fountain"). It got panned by critics and flopped hard at the box office. But surprisingly, Ebert loves the movie and praise her performance!) and "My Name is Joe".

And a special report on the "Sundance Film Festival" where Ebert talks about the screening events of several movies such as "The Blair Witch Project", "American Movie" and other winners and nominations.

No recap, but here's the results of Ebert's ratings on that week's program!:

"Payback": Thumbs Up
"She's All That": Thumbs Down
"Rushmore": Thumbs Down
"Simply Irresistible": Thumbs Up
&
"My Name is Joe": Thumbs Up.

Recorded on KATU ABC 2 in Portland, Oregon with Commercials intact.