When Gene Siskel died Whoopi Goldberg gave him an affectionate tribute at the Oscars. Oprah Winfrey named a column in her magazine after something he said to her. It was called "What I know for sure."
I watched it at the theater when it came out when I was a teen, but it felt like a kids' movie; and it didn't stand out from others, like _Alien Nation (1988)_ didn't either.
I agree with Roger Ebert on Out of Africa. It was one of the best movies of the 1980s. Even if you think Robert Redford was miscast (which I don't) it is still a great movie.
I agree about the disastrous casting of Robert Redford in Out of Africa. That aside, I'm astonished that there was no mention of the glorious soundtrack composed by the incomparable John Barry.
1:09 Boy, Siskel really whiffed on that one. He completely forgot "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," along with the Kick the Can segment of "Twilight Zone: The Movie."
I agree completely with Gene about the miscast of Redford in "Out of Africa." I think Klaus Maria Brandauer would have been GREAT in the lead! He is extraordinarily appealing and a lot sexier than Redford, who did walk through the role like a Washington reporter. Thumbs up to Gene for catching that!
I believe the movie got stiffed (Spielberg didn't even get a best director nod) was all the flack the black male groups were making over how they were portrayed. Almost as if they never read the original book much less saw the film. Oscar continue to play it safe and will stay away from anything controversial.
I still haven't seen it. But now the musical version is in theaters. People are saying they won't take their kids to see the movie due to the abuse in it.
Out of Africa is a great film. Being able to appreciate all the great elements of a well made movie is not common anymore. Sad. No stupid comics, crashing flying cars, blood, gore gratuitous sex. Just a beautiful film and great professional film making.
1:24 Siskel didn't like Wolfgang Petersen's first American film THE NEVERENDING STORY, but Ebert enjoyed it. For Wolfgang's second US film ENEMY MINE, it was the exact opposite.😄
During the into Siskel said The Color Purple was Steven Spielberg's first film since E.T. Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom was released in summer of '84 ...Which they gave high praise to .
Just thinking about Spies Like Us makes me want to sit down and watch it again. Their review doesn't cover even one-quarter of how funny it really is. John Landis was able to get some great comic acting out of everyone on screen.
One of Chevy Chase's best, along with _Vacation_ and _Fletch._ For some reason Siskel and Ebert think _Funny Farm_ may be his best work. That one totally made me tune out.
I really think Roger missed the boat on Spies Like Us. For me, that film still holds up, and the "middle" of the film had some of the most hilarious scenes ever. The "testing" scene with Frank Oz as the proctor is as good as it gets, and the scene with Chase and Aykroyd attempting a "surgery" was equally hysterical. One of the most underrated film comedies of all time, there was real brilliance in this film. And I also disagree with Gene, the whole thing was funny, not just the beginning.
I’m really surprised Roger didn’t like Enemy Mine. I thought he was more of a sci fi enthusiast. I’m also starting to think Siskel has the better funny bone. It’s always fascinating when their opinion doesn’t meet my expectations.
Im curious as to what year they went from this theater or studio to the one they used throughout the 90s. I assume by the various reviews Ive watched on RU-vid that it was around 1987 or 1988. That latter setting is the main one I remember watching growing up. I was born in 1979 so it makes sense. I do remember watching movies and shows in the early to mid 80s, but I feel like most of what I remember from Siskel and Ebert is the later background(not counting what Ive watched on RU-vid.)
Robert Redford was terribly miscast in 'Out of Africa'. With all of the great English actors in the world, one of them should have played the Englishman in the film.
I still haven't seen "Out Of Africa" (even though I could've watched it on TCM tonight) and I'm sure it's an undeserved Best Picture winner over "The Color Purple" and "Prizzi's Honor". I thought Robert Redford and Meryl Streep should've re-teamed for "The Bridges Of Madison County".
@@TheLolapuff Amen to Network. My third favorite movie of all time. I think the only reason Rocky won was because of the Bicentennial hoopla. But Network or even Taxi Driver should've won best pic. Don't get me wrong though. Rocky is still a fantastic movie. But there were just better ones that year.
Wasn't expecting to like it when I finally watched it, but to my surprise I did. My least favorite Best Picture would have to be Dances with Wolves; I was genuinely shocked at how little it worked for me. Gave it a second try and it played no better.
Calling the novel of the Color Purple "a black feminist novel" is absurd. One of the great American novels ever and people try to pigeon hole it into some subset, made up genre of "black feminism." WTF?
You know, he really loved the movie. His view most likely encouraged others to see it, and possibly seek out the novel and read it. But you have to focus on a description which you find limiting, Good job.
@@martinsorenson1055That’s right he’s the one pigeon holing it into a racist issue just like some people do in EVERYTHING. lol it’s getting ridiculous and ignorant.
now you know why robert redfort aged after this. he was a miscast in Out of Africa. poor chasting choice, Meryl Streep pretty much acted soo well he never was able to find a side to show how special he was. it just seemed like a miss match of character. ~peace thomas :) *edit* had to edit and mention, there were times when you could tell, deliberately, that the camera was *too* focused on streep and *too* focused on redford, why? because they could NOT work their scenes together. meryl had her character down, and robert had it on that single camera. see the scene where they are on her porch for the first time. you can see that redord is lost and doesn't look like he knows what he wants to do. it's the scene where she is to the left of him. you pretty much here him say something like a snarl, or quick comment see the left side of his jaw, and walk away. this IS the first 'romantic' or 'get to know' your character, on that porch of her house. htm. and that was pretty much the first one then the over load of single shots person to person up until when they had their first real argument of commitment. that went better but still. he still seemed less than serving in that shot also, even with dialog and his acting. htm.
I'll NEVER ear Raisinets EVER again. I ate a whole box of them. The very next day I ended up puking out my guts. WTH was Ebert smoking here? "Spies Like Us" is a brilliant film. It certainly is NOT a Razzie film.
@@steveprice2718 Redford was not that great either. Three people got nominated for "The Color Purple" only one for "Out of Africa". The Oscars sucked big time that year.
