Siskel and Ebert: Evita, Beavis & Butt head Do America, One Fine Day, My Fellow American, Scream

Siskel and Ebert discuss these movies from 1996.

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

Siskel and Ebert BOTH giving a thumbs up to Beavis and Butthead is the single most unexpected review in the history of the show

[@sha11235]

I was surprised myself. I didn't watch the cartoon at the time because it seemed to be negative but then hearing what they said here I checked out the film and thought it was pretty funny. I don't get the Cornholio thing Beavis does. I guess when he eats too much sugar he turns into that nut.

[@marcospinelli6367]

This idea that Siskel & Ebert were some stodgy old out of touch guys was always based on nothing but people's perception of them. They reviewed every movie on a curve for what it was trying to acomplish.

[@jjgreen5206]

Agreed

[@marygonzalez2472]

@@sha11235 You just described Cornholio perfectly.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@sha11235I need more TP for my buuuunghole!

[@Thrifty032781]

I was in 9th grade when Scream came out. It was pretty popular at my school. Then they released new movies in my early 30s and now the newest at age 40. I feel like I grew into adulthood along with these characters. I don't normally like horror movies, but this is an exception.

[@RocStarr913]

That’s because most horror movies are potboilers and lack interesting characters. The Scream movies at least have tried to be written with some level of care to the characters.

[@sha11235]

And look at all the Scream movies that have come out since this.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I'm not interested in horror movies (other than horror-comedies), but I remember seeing _Scream_ though not its sequels. I did see its silly spoof, _Scary Movie._ Next week I'll see _Five Nights at Freddie's,_ because it's PG-13 and the last scene in the trailer was funny. 🤞

[@ertznay3142]

Why are Gene and Roger wearing the same suit?

[@TobeyStarburst]

Very cool they like the boys Beavis and Butthead.

[@jackedkerouac4414]

Will avoid ‘One Fine Day’. The formulaic romcom is the most painful to watch imo

[@5andup]

Highly concur. "Forced chemistry" between the beautiful and talented Pfeiffer and handsome Clooney resulted in an awful film.

[@kali3665]

The biggest problem with My Fellow Americans: it only had a handful of great moments, and ALL OF THEM were in the freaking trailer. How can a movie with Jack Lemmon, James Garner, and Lauren Bacall be THAT BAD?!!

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

A good cast wasted on a mediocre movie. At least back in their respective heydays, those actors would crank them out like an assembly line. The last picture was a dud? Oh well. The new one starts shooting on Tuesday!

[@ChrisJFilms]

It seems like such a good idea, but it just looks like it would fall flat.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I guess you have to go to _Grumpy Old Men (1993)_ and _Maverick (1994)_ to see these two guys, respectively in good movies.

[@jeremygill2409]

Of course Gene didn’t like Scream. It was a good slasher movie with humor. Gene really needed to lighten up.

[@curly_wyn]

He was good the way he was, he even loved The Thing where Ebert didn’t.

[@sha11235]

He liked Scream 2 though.

[@sandal_thong8631]

_Scream VI (2023)_ came out this year, but I missed it, even though they changed the setting to the city. I'm just not that into horror movies. But while watching this review, I was thinking of the news that said we've now had over 600 mass-shootings this year. I was also imagining a movie that looks like this where teenagers are in danger, but then it ends with a mass-shooting by someone deranged who has no personal interest in the main characters, and wasn't stalking them. I bet such horror-movie watchers wouldn't have seen that coming!

[@onionrovirosa]

For those “surprised” remember they are critics they seek for art that pushes the envelope and are adults so of course they liked Beavis and Buthead

[@DanyTV79]

Evita was propaganda.

[@uyeda]

Then came Scream 2 in 1997 and Scream 3 in 2000.

[@hamupinhere]

The precursor to the "Scream" films, "West Craven's New Nightmare", is when Wes Craven started getting really tongue-in-cheek metaphysical with his films.

[@GrassValleyGreg]

@@hamupinhere Bingo.

[@reneedennis2011]

I like Beavis and Butthead Do America!

[@DupontandLowesWarrior]

Scream 4 (2011)

[@meganhussey3456]

@@reneedennis2011 I did too, it was funny--I kinda wonder what the producers of One Fine Day thought of this show--"They loved Beavis and Butt-head and hated our film with George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer? Is there no justice in this world?!"

[@iluvmylovebirdandmybudgiet7729]

I was not a fan of Evita. I had the same feeling about `The Wall.` I was not a big fan of the music so as a whole the film was really boring.

[@oobrocks]

Madonna deserved to win the Oscar for this role (she did win the Golden Globes)

[@tangoblue]

😂😂😂

[@BruceLee-t9n]

Is it me of Banderas is a terrible singer. But he's a great actor

[@eargasm1072]

2020 and the world today..."uhhhhh Beavis....it suxxx"

[@AllenMQuinn]

I was shocked Siskel & Ebert both recommended and enjoyed Beavis & Butthead.

[@Tolstoy111]

@@SimuLord Those films are about stupidity. They aren’t stupid themselves.

[@monkeyballs512]

Why? It was exceptionally well done and they are not stupid. They saw the value in it

[@joeblough261]

@@monkeyballs512 I'm BEYOND shocked that Siskel would dig it. Ebert I can see getting it, but I when Siskel just said he liked it, I almost fell of my chair. Too often Siskel missed the point, or required everything to be highbrow, or compared a movie to another movie, and b/c it "wasn't as good as that one", or "had similar plot" he discarded it automatically.

[@BookClubDisaster]

They were smart guys and saw it for what it was: a satire poking fun at teeanged (and adult) stupidity, not a celebration of it.

[@katc5051]

I wasn't because I lived in Chicago and read all their reviews for years before their television show began. But I can understand why others would be surprised.

[@jasonmiller3134]

Who else is here only for the Beavis and Butthead part -- TWO THUMBS UP???

[@jjd3hner544]

Just here to hear professional film critics recommend beavis and butthead

[@hamursh]

@@jjd3hner544 I bet Mike Judge was very happy with that!

[@BookClubDisaster]

I'm so proud of them! I was afraid they wouldn't get Beavis and Butthead.

[@reneperez7903]

Evita is an effective film one of Madonna's best films thumbs 👍 3 stars out of 4. Beavis & Butthead Do America was hilarious i give it thumbs 👍 3 & a half stars out if 4 One Fine Day was sorta boring to me despite Michelle Pfeiffer & George Clooney good chemistry thumbs 👎 2 stars out of 4. Scream is an effective horror film thanks to a strong cast & the direction of the late Wes Craven thumbs 👍 3 & a half stars out of 4. Ghosts of Mississippi i give it a moderate thumbs 👍 2 & a half stars out of 4 mainly cuz of James Woods performance although the courtroom scenes wore me out.

[@nickblomgren]

"I think there's a general impression that in a way, the movie and the tv series celebrate Beavis and ButtHead. And I don't really think they do. I think they're a satire of this kinda couch-potato, disaffected attitude. And that Beavis and ButtHead are not really presented in all that positive a light." You may watch this review and think to yourself: Well duh. But I can't express how rare it was to see someone explain the obvious where most media on TV that commented on that show didn't. I remember clearly growing up in the 90's during the time of this show's release, and how everyone was up-in-arms about how kids were going to watch that show and be like: "Oh. I'm going to be act like Beavis and Butthead." Which had about as much weight as someone watching Power Rangers and proceeding to do synchronized karate and cheer-leader hand motions while not looking at explosions while posing. Thank you Ebert.

[@alexanderdickens2517]

yeah, carl sagan wrote specifically about Beavis and Butthead and how it was indicative of the intellectual downfall of America.

[@Hollywoodsteve]

They nailed it on Evita, great movie, but Siskel, as usual, completely didn't get a fun thriller film with Scream. Glad Ebert liked it and I think most critics at the time liked it as well.

[@zxbc1]

In a weird way I kind of understand Siskel's criticism of Scream. It's indulging in the very elements it's critiquing, it's not exactly as innovative as something like Cabin in the Woods that came decades later. However it did lead the charge among a new wave of postmodernism in film, and had a profound influence for its time. I don't think Siskel likes horror genre films too much, while Ebert wrote Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls so he kind of "gets it".

[@sm5574]

I never care whether a critic enjoyed the film. I want to hear them explain why they did or didn't enjoy it. Ebert liked _Scream_ for the satire; Siskel felt the satire didn't redeem the triteness of the story. That's the takeaway for me, not the thumbs.

[@sm5574]

​@@zxbc1, to clarify, I think Siskel likes suspenseful horror films, not slasher flicks.

[@reneedennis2011]

They're both wearing the same outfits! 👖👕👔

[@musicman76enator]

It was holiday season when this episode aired

[@r_jd279]

Wait..? It isn't the same guy talking to himself in the mirror?

[@reneedennis2011]

@@r_jd279 Yup. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TobeyStarburst]

I think it was on purpose??

[@fastguned]

Kind of shocked that Roger and Gene LIKED Beavis and Butthead

[@djluvsdi2029]

Sometimes it's easy to forget that Batman and Catwoman were actually in movies that didn't completely suck.

[@willcwhite]

Roger nails it with his analysis of ALW's "scores"

[@Supremmo]

Damn! Watching this takes me back to Sunday Mornings in my hometown. I can’t believe both of these guys are gone.

[@tfronauer]

Gene's phrase "the big sex night" makes me laugh

[@SoleaGalilei]

Ebert makes a good point about Ghosts of Mississippi, the movie is all about the white characters while the black murder victim is just a prop for the plot, so its anti racist message is undermined.

[@reneedennis2011]

I agree.

[@DTD110865]

I saw parts of it a long time ago, but I'll take your word for it. Over the years, I read that he boasted about killing Evers to a black nurse's aide in prison. I also found out that in 1966 Stokely Carmichael promised to kill Evers if he ever saw him walking the streets. Too bad he never had that chance.

[@movie-mandan]

Gene and Roger realizing that Beavis and Butthead was a satire on teenage couch potatoes is good and I’m glad they knew that. But them giving it thumbs up is shockingly great!

[@romanumeralz]

5:00 Beavis & Butt-Head Do America review

[@allanfifield8256]

Evita and Juan Peron: Just shows how stupid the public can be (the real history, not the movie).

[@orionkalahari2037]

You mean the Nazis they allowed to live in the country after the war or the fascistic government they created with thousands of people being killed by them?

[@saymynameice-zen-berg511]

I really liked my fellow Americans

[@davesecx]

Me too. It's just an easy watch. Like comfort food. I enjoyed the banter between the two.

[@saymynameice-zen-berg511]

@@davesecx yeah. It’s grumpy old men meet a buddy road movie.

[@mrdel7776]

I was shocked siskel and Ebert actually likes and recommended to watch beavis and butt head do america now that is a classic cartoon movie beavis and butt head with the late Robert stack rest in peace a legend I loved that movie just laughing how beavis and butt head reaction when there tv was stolen and set off a adventure to find there tv just nothing but destruction along the way lol ha ha they have been MTV super stars rock on many more years to come after what 30 years ago

[@codyclaeys2008]

Evita is great yes Madonna had one of her best performance of her career but Antonio Banderas voice is superb

[@larry-ludwig]

Never expected Siske and Ebert giving thumbs up to Beavis and Butthead.

[@babybird871]

I thought Evita was an absolute bore......I had the same problem I had with the style of Parker`s "Pink Floyd the Wall" ..it was wall to wall music if you didn`t like the music it was a hard film to sit through...

[@sandal_thong8631]

There was a movie that came out this year (2023), that I described as _Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)_ but without the music. I'm not sure if it was _Asteroid City_ or something else. What else did I see that was really terrible? _Fool's Paradise_ was so bad.

[@sandal_thong8631]

It was _Beau is Afraid._ I didn't watch it, but read the plot synopsis.

[@stonefree1911]

Loved these guys even tho I disagreed a lot. My Fellow Americans was a good movie.

[@kali3665]

The flaw with My Fellow Americans is that most of the best lines were in the trailer.

[@stevenclarke8773]

Didn't think whoopi was a funny comic or is a smart talk show host,but she does have ability as an actress and many of her films were entertaining .Ghosts of Mississippi-her performance was excellent.

[@mindriot91_96]

I liked her in Fatal Beauty (1987)

[@sandal_thong8631]

_Sister Act_ was great, as was _Jumpin' Jack Flash._ I haven't seen _The Color Purple,_ and am not sure why they are remaking it.

[@steve_en5903]

Any movie with the line “yeah I have a question! Is this a GOD’ damn?…heh…your get it…’goddam’” Deserves ALL the thumbs up

[@strykertool]

I actually remember this episode and was hoping that evita would get a thumbs up. Literally sweating. Also sweating on how they would react to b&b movie …. And my mouth dropped when they got a positive review.

[@samsquanch1996]

I'd expect Roger to like B&B Do America, but damn I'm surprised Gene also gave it a positive review!

[@jeffjones3040]

Siskel usually hates anything good.

[@twikirobot6897]

Siskel was "depressed" by Scream.....😆

[@Hollywoodsteve]

Haha, typical Siskel.

[@Casper50002]

Mike Judge plastered the "two thumbs up!" on the posters

[@DannyCosmos]

siskel took such an L with scream. hes such a prude

[@ethanedwards7557]

James Woods playing a despicable racist, talk about perfect casting!

[@alcabane3125]

allen just took the words out of my mouth i was surprised as well gave it a 5/5 in letterboxd

[@robaquarian]

I never liked the Scream movies

[@fsudude100]

Surprised to see them wearing the same outfit

[@trfesok]

I was pleasantly surprised at how good Madonna was in this, not being a big fan of hers.

[@codyclaeys2008]

Her only redeeming film in my opinion

[@sandal_thong8631]

I haven't seen it, but was wondering what S&E's opinions were. I just came from their negative review of _Body of Evidence_ and where one gets to interview her and asked, "What's your problem of not being successful at the movies?" I did like her in _Desperately Seeking Susan, A League of Their Own,_ and _Dick Tracy._

[@HugoSoup57]

Gene didn’t like Scream? I’m disappointed, that’s such an effective comedy horror movie. I think he was kind of was a snob and too harsh on a lot of good horror films that would eventually become classics

[@skinlesswalnut6259]

Proves that critics don’t know shit, the same with the thing

[@ricardocantoral7672]

@@skinlesswalnut6259 Roger enjoyed the picture.

[@curly_wyn]

@@skinlesswalnut6259 Gene loved The Thing.

[@curly_wyn]

@@ricardocantoral7672 Gene actually, Ebert didn’t like it and thought it was inferior to the 1951 original.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

@@curly_wyn I was talking about Scream.

[@gwenwachsman3739]

Boy, did the 90's SUCK!!! Anyone who grew up in that decade, I feel so bad for. Lackluster, boring, no direction. UUUUUGH

[@BM-wh5qk]

You don't think he would have liked Lord of the Rings?

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I would say the early to mid 90's was generally good era of cinema. After that, the quality started dipping.

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

It was good for indie film. Studios? Not so much

[@jeffjones3040]

Musicals are absolutely asinine. Self parody really!

[@sandal_thong8631]

_Dicks: the Musical_ now in theaters.

[@5andup]

Saw all of these in 1997 in the theatres... 1. Evita - Madonna tried hard to capture Evita's persona yet she can only do so much. This is a glossy 90's production with little payoff except for the fabulous costumes and appealing Antonio Banderas and talented Jonathan Pryce. 👎👎 2. One Fine Day - No chemistry between Pfeiffer and Clooney plus a predictable plot that even genre fans will hate. 👎👎👎 3. Scream - A "revisionist" (emphasis on the quotation marks) genre film that has been discussed, debated (cf: Siskel & Ebert), and acknowledged by horror film critics, scholars, and fans alike. I admire the concept and the technique (narrative). 👍👍 4. Beavis & Butthead Do America - Consumerism at its worst) an acknowledgement that cartoons can be packaged into "feature films" for mass consumption (in this case, theatrical viewing). 👎 5. My Fellow Americans - Thinly and predictably plotted though (as always) Jack Lemmon's comic acting gifts (as his chemistry with another comic genius - James Garner) are admirable. Comedy is hard as they say, and its limited appeal is displayed here. 👍 6. Ghosts of Mississippi - Typical "Oscar-bait" for Rob Reiner as evidenced by his romanticized (and forced dramatic tone) treatment of the theme. James Woods' Oscar-nominated performance gets due points here. 👎

[@VinMar-m6w]

Jonathan Pryce was a cipher in _Evita._ Really forgettable in that.

[@mahatmagandhi7588]

I guess neither of them thought that Beavis & Butthead stereotyped young males? If they had been females and were shown in equally negative light then they probably would have condemned the film. The feminists, who are supposed to be for equality and fairness, never came to the resucue on this. I guess they do not want a partnership after all.

[@cherylhulting1301]

Dude. Lighten up. 15-year old boys are often maniacs, and no one knew it better than Mike Judge. I'm a feminist and thought B and B was hilarious satire. I loved the show and those two crazy boys.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

It must be exhausting being this self-victimizing.