Standing Ovation for 'Champion' Roger Ebert at the Indie Spirit Awards

By Bryan Alexander Posted Mar 6th 2010 02:34AM

Easily the emotional climax of Friday night's 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards, Roger Ebert received a standing ovation from the star studded crowd. The rousing applause came just before the award he and his wife Chaz sponsored was introduced.

Presenter Matt Dillon called Ebert "a tireless champion of independent film."

After a montage of his most memorably biting criticisms, the famed critic slowly stood up at his table as industry heavyweights and fans -- including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Jeff Bridges and Peter Sarsgaard -- got to their feet. With a huge smile on his face, Ebert soaked in the respectful applause of the crowd.

Presenters Taraji P. Henson and Matt chimed in from the stage to add their relieved appreciation for the critic's thumbs up about their own work. "Thank you, Roger, you always had great things to say about me," Henson said. Dillon added, "Likewise."

Ebert and wife Chaz sponsored a $25,000 grant for the "Truer than Fiction" award for aspiring documentary makers. The award winners Bill and Turner Ross happily took the grant for their film "45365," thanked the Eberts and promised to pay their rent with the winnings.

Ebert recently refused doctors' pleas to allow them to make one last attempt to restore his voice, which he lost during cancer treatments nearly four years ago.

Comments

(12)

Saturday 06 March

By movielover

Vote down Vote up Report this

roger ebert is a saint. i grew up watching him and he's a legend who deserves more praise.

By Pat

He is the true american hero.

By elizaqq

Meet

By r

nice mouth ya got there champ

By nancy

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

He lost half his face because of cancer surgeries, unlike you who seems to have lost your entire mind to stupidity and nastiness.

By bats

dont miss it.

Sunday 07 March

By bernie

I agree, he's much more than a movie reviewer. He has always been a champion of movies and a decent man. Now he's putting up a brave fight against cancer on the world stage and handling it with honor.

By www.batsale.com

thank you,so cool

By SantaFeJack

Roger is one of the greats: not only for his insightful observations about movies, but for his courage against a tough disease with undoubtedly very painful times.

By santafejack2

I may not have always agreed with Roger's assessment of a movie, but I certainly admire his courage in his ongoing battle with cancer. It is one tough road to hoe!

By dorothy cooks

I wish this talented man all the best, as I often wondered how he was doing. I loved hearing his thumbs up/thumbs down as I have followed him since my early adulthood until the present.While studying for my masters degree in family studies,one my writting assisnments were to apply family relations, traditions, and norms to a written assignment after viewing "Fliddler on the Roof". I remebered that as a teen I had been encouraged to go see the movie after hearing MR. Ebert review, which I reserached and used to help me wite the 8 papge paper. I still love the music fron Fiddler! thank you Mr. Ebert!!

Monday 08 March

By batsale.=com

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑hehe,please look my name,it's my lin-ks↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

,the good mall to pick your fashion

Www . batsale . c om

you can find many ch-eap and fas-hion stuff
(jor dan ,su pra,Sh ox ,Pu ma s-h-o-e-s)
(NBA NFL NHL MLB j-e-r-s-e-y)
(lv coach pra da h-a-n-d-b-a-g)
(cha nel w-a-l-l-e-t)
(D&G s-u-n-g-l-a-s-s-e-s)
(ed har dy j-a-c-k-e-t)
(UG G b-o-o-t)
(new er a c-a-p)

T-s hirt Fashion from 12 U-S D. N-i-k-e s-h-o-e-s Fas-hion from 35 U-S D ..pay-pal accept ,dont miss it...hhhbbbzzz