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I should note, being a film critic myself, I think of Roger Ebert as pretty much the ‘God’ of this profession.  The guy has not only done his time and proven his knowledge of the media time and time again, he’s also provided us with entertaining and intellectual content through the years by way of books or select DVD commentary tracks (listen to his audio track on DARK CITY, perhaps the finest commentary I’ve ever heard).  His current condition, which has caused him to have his lower jaw removed and use a computer to communicate, has not slowed him down one bit.  Using the internet, and his frequently updated Twitter account, Ebert continues to entertain any and all lovers of film.  Along with his wife Chaz, he’s currently putting finishing touches on a new version of AT THE MOVIES, the show he and Gene Siskel made popular decades ago.  The proposed new duo was going to be former New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell and Associated Press writer Christy Lemire (I would have been happy with this, as I highly respect Mitchell and would gladly date Christy… she’s pretty and loves movies), but Mitchell chose not to take the gig.  Since then there’s been great curiosity as to who Roger and Chaz would bring in as a replacement.  Alas, my phone never rang.  Today the official announcement came out by way of the following press release:

CHICAGO, January 4, 2011 – Ebert Productions is proud to announce that Ignatiy Vishnevetsky has joined the team at Ebert Presents At the Movies. Vishnevetsky will accompany the previously announced Christy Lemire of The Associated Press as co-host on the new weekly program. The show is scheduled to debut on January 21st on public television stations across the country, representing almost 90% national coverage and will be produced in Chicago at WTTW, where Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert began taping the legendary “Sneak Previews” some 35 years ago. It will be distributed by American Public Television (APT).

Fans of the original shows will be pleased to find that in addition to serving as co-producer of the show, Roger Ebert will also host a special segment each week and had direct input into the selection of the show’s host critics including Chicago-based Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (Ig.nah.tee) (Vish.na.vet.ski). Hearing him discuss films in the Lake Street Screening Room used by Chicago critics, Ebert said, “I was struck by the depth and detail of his film knowledge, and by how articulate he was.” After reading his work online, Ebert was sold.

Vishnevetsky is a critic and essayist for Mubi.com, a new multi-national streaming online cinematheque. Ignatiy moved to America from Russia when he was not quite 9. He graduated from high school in Milwaukee and then moved to Chicago, “because I could find more films to see here.” He is a co-founder of the acclaimed Cine-File.info, and continues to write criticism for it on a weekly basis. He is also a contributor to The Chicago Reader, and helps program the current Cine-File Selects series at the University of Chicago’s Doc Fims, the nation’s oldest film society. Prior to becoming a film critic, Vishnevetsky, who is multi-lingual, worked as a translator for Novoe Literaturnoe Obozrenie, Russia’s premier literary journal.

Vishnevetsky will go head to head each week with Christy Lemire, who has been reviewing movies for The Associated Press for 12 years and was named the first full-time film critic in the news organization’s history in 2004. Christy filled in for Roger Ebert several times on “At the Movies” in 2007 and has appeared on “The Charlie Rose Show,” “Good Morning America” and “The View,” to name a few. She also covers the Oscars, Golden Globes and many other awards shows each year. A third-generation L.A. native, Christy is a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Of Lemire, Ebert says, “I admired the way she reviewed with Richard Roeper when she co-hosted our show,” Ebert said, “and I respect her criticism. On television, Christy is a natural.”

Ebert Presents At The Movies, marks the rebirth of a dream for both Roger and Chaz Ebert, who will serve as executive producer of the show. Chaz Ebert says she is happy to have this rare opportunity in television to bring back a show that started 35 years ago at WTTW, had a successful run at Tribune Entertainment and Disney, and is now once again being embraced by public stations nationwide.

It’s a bold and interesting choice, but I will say it’s nice to see someone like Ignatiy get this opportunity.  I’ve been a film critic for 16 years, and never really been paid for my work.  Had someone approached me a decade ago with a job like this, I’d be in heaven.  This is certainly the kind of thing Vishnevetsky can build on and use to define his career, and with that we wish him all the best.  It will be interesting to see some fresh new takes on upcoming films with Christy and Ignatiy… and even more interesting hearing how folks butcher the pronunciation of Ignatiy’s name.  The new version of AT THE MOVIES premieres on January 21.  You can read Vishnevetsky’s work on Mubi.com and in The Chicago Reader.  Considering he was born in Russia and moved to America before turning 9, safe to say this truly is ‘The American Dream’ coming true.  Congrats Ignatiy!  If you ever need someone to fill in on a sick day…

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