Roger Ebert died today, as many if not most of you have already heard. There have been thousands of news reports and blog posts in the wake of his passing, and there’s probably nothing I can say that hasn’t been said already.

For people who love film, and writing about film, and writing about anything, the man was a giant of our culture. I have long believed that he was one of the best writers working in the last 50 years. He was a huge influence on me, both in terms of my love for movies and also my own writing. It is perhaps cliché to suggest it, but since cancer took his ability to speak a few years ago, he still spoke to more people than ever before through his work in print and on his blog.  Perhaps cliché – but no less truth. He will be missed.