I’ve been gone for a week on a mission trip with my church so I haven’t been able to post and I’m a little behind on the news.  But the first news I’ve come across makes me so happy.  

As soon as I heard that Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz would be hosting At the Movies I had my worries.  The first thing I thought was why don’t they just let A.O. Scott (New York Times Critic) and Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune), both regular contributors to the show while Ebert was recovering, go at it and continue the show.  And thankfully that is exactly what they decided to do, if only they hadn’t wasted a year in between.  Don’t get me wrong I’ve grown to love the Ben’s.  They just aren’t great movie critics, at least it doesn’t come off that way on the show.  

Starting September 7th Scott and Phillips, two of the best critics writing, will continue the landmark show Siskel and Ebert started 26 years ago.  The question won’t be the quality of the show anymore but the production.  Scott writes for the New York Times and Phillips for the Chicago Tribune both live in their respect cities; so the show must set up screenings for each in both cities and then fly them both out to film the show.  Hopefully that won’t be a problem.  And right now I’m optimistic.  I can’t wait to hear them discuss some great, and not so great, films.  

Tyler

1. Perm Parker Says:
   August 27th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

   Amazing! I haven’t check Scott’s work as much as I check Phillips, but both are great movie critics. I loved Scott’s review (on the show) of There Will Be Blood, and basically everything Phillips writes (although I don’t always agree with him). It is good to know they will be collaborating. I hope 9 will be one of the movies they’ll be reviewing on their first show, since it looks like it might be interesting. Thanks for delivering this amazing news!