roeper

Richard Roeper biography

Richard Roeper's column has been appearing in the Sun-Times for more than 20 years. The column has garnered numerous awards, including the National Headliner Award …Read More

Search recent columns

More Columns

  • Visit to Anne Frank museum catches Justin Bieber between history lesson and shameless narcissism

    If our respect for Anne Frank can be rattled by a pop star’s ignorant comment or a subsequent joke in a column, that doesn’t say much for our own set of beliefs.

  • In movies and reality, Internet helps mean kids be meaner

    The whole thing starts with a fleeting moment of eye contact in a shopping mall. Early in the four-star movie “Disconnect,” two teenage skateboard punks (Colin Ford as Jason and Aviad Bernstein as Frye) cackle wildly as they witness the payoff moment of a nasty …

  • RICHARD ROEPER: ‘Accidental Racist’ joins the ranks as the worst pop songs of all time

    Words — and music — cannot describe the epic bowl of awfulness that is “Accidental Racist.” Since it was released on Monday to a stunned American public, there’s been near-universal derision, with Twitter nearly exploding with criticism and the blogosphere blowing up with negative reviews.

  • If there were a Mount Rushmore of movie critics, we’d start with Roger Ebert

    RICHARD ROEPER: After hearing the terribly sad news of the passing of my writing hero, my friend, my television partner, I sat at the keyboard and tried to come up with the perfect lead to sum up my feelings about Roger Ebert’s passing. Five, six minutes went by — an eternity when you’re on a deadline. Roger would have told me to stop fretting and start writing.

  • Unstable times for TV hosts

    Matt Lauer is on his way out as host of “Today.” It’s only a matter of time. Or is that really the case? Maybe Lauer will be there for another 10 years, if he can just weather this storm. Elisabeth Hasselbeck? She’s gone from “The …Read More

  • Why Kevin Ware’s injury makes us wince, but movie kills don’t

    The snap of Kevin Ware’s leg feels familiar to anyone who ever has fractured a bone — and who hasn’t?

    Carrey video is stale, effective

    Leave it to Jim Carrey to one of the most brilliant AND one of the most outdated video parodies of all time. Carrey’s “Cold Dead Hands” is a meticulously constructed satire of “Hee Haw,” and if you’re under 50 I can understand if you’ve never …

    Kate Upton doesn’t really want to go to your prom

    You’re not endearing yourself to a celebrity with that invitation to a dance. You’re just putting the star in an awkward position.

    Pete Townshend latest rocker to silence the heckler

    Concerts can bring out the worst in audiences. Nothing like the last chucklehead in America who still believes it’s the height of humor to yell out “Freebird!” during an acoustic number. Just ask Pete Townshend.

    Dennis Rodman and Donald Trump find new ways to appall us, decade after decade

    Dennis Rodman and Donald Trump. They’re the “gifts” that just keep on giving. In a 1996 column headlined “Rodman Won’t Grow Up, and His Book Proves It,” I talked about Rodman’s book, “Bad As I Wanna Be,” and noted his incessant efforts to stay in …

    All about Oscar: few sure bets

    RICHARD ROEPER: With some of the closest Oscar races in a generation, this is an extremely tough year — which makes it all the more fun. There have been years in which the winners in all the major categories were foregone conclusions, but with the Oscars less than a week away, there’s still no consensus for best picture, actress or supporting actor.

    When Hollywood romance tales would be real-life loserville

    Valentine’s Day often brings about lists of the most romantic movies of all time, from “Casablanca” to “He’s Just Not That Into You,” and I’m kidding about one of those titles. One of my favorite romantic comedies is “Love Actually,” which features most of the …

    Harsh critic crossed the line with digs at McCarthy’s size

    Critic Rex Reed crossed the line with fat jokes about Melissa McCarthy

    Two magazines, two celebrity profiles. Why is Jimmy Kimmel’s story a better read?

    Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was on the cover of the Jan. 17 issue of Rolling Stone, on his knees, wearing a tool belt, wrench in hand, exposing a sliver of plumber’s butt crack as he grinned slyly at the camera. Actress Megan Fox …

    There are movies that are bad, and then there’s ‘Movie 43’

    Perhaps Halle Berry, Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman thought they’d be showing their carefree side when they agreed to be in this unfunny collection of aggressively tasteless comedy scenes. They were very, very, very wrong.

    Britney, Beyonce and the game of lip syncing

    With three Las Vegas casinos said to be in a bidding war for a Britney Spears spectacular, how can anyone be upset about lip synching?

  • As some pro athletes do battle, their wives and girlfriends prattle

    Ray Lewis basher Anna Burns Welker is the latest sports wife to sound off — perhaps to her husband’s chagrin.