San Diego Comic-Con is under way, and it inspired me to go
back and read some of Roger’s reviews of superhero movies (ten of which are
linked below). Roger confessed to having
a particular fondness for the superhero comic book (graphic novel) movie genre.
As I read some of the reviews, I realized that to me Roger was my Superhero,
the bespectacled, mild-mannered film critic who becomes Super Roger when yielding his Golden Thumb in favor of quality
or fun films, whether indies or blockbusters, or when advocating for the rights
of those without power. The ordinary man
who becomes extraordinary when he unleashes his ability to empathize with others,
racing to the defense of people of another race or age or ability or economic
status. The hero who can rouse the consciousness of others to come together
around issues of social justice and fair play. And the man who had an inner core of steel,
and a physical constitution so strong he eluded Death until he was ready to
submit on his own terms.
What I love about Steve James’ documentary “Life Itself” is
that you see all of the various incarnations of Roger as he goes from ordinary
human to superhero: his boyhood; his passion for journalism; his sense of fair play;
his …read more