The Ebert Plan

The Kansas City Public Library’s increasingly ambitious Off the Wall film series aims to top last summer’s cult bill with EbertfestKC, a slate of movies curated by Roger Ebert. The Chicago film critic, already a Pulitzer Prize-winning household name, has in recent months been anointed in Esquire and sainted by Oprah. The attention stems from Ebert’s loss of speech to cancer and several failed operations, but what might be more moving is that he has never been as prolific, as varied or as passionate as he is today. Though Ebert himself won’t be here to introduce this summer’s first Off the Wall movie, his choice reflects the plain-spoken style and sly wit of his own best writing: Sam Raimi’s 1998 noir icicle, A Simple Plan. Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and a briefcase of ill-gotten gains share the screen starting at 8:45 p.m. on the Central Library’s rooftop terrace (14 West 10th Street, 816-701-3400). Admission is free. See kclibrary.org for details and information about the rest of the series.

Fri., May 21, 8:45 p.m., 2010