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A Masterpiece!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

In 2013, a bright light went out in the world. Someone who very early on inspired me to not only enjoy watching movies, but to be excited by them. Someone who taught me that nearly anyone could participate in film analysis and pass some amount of judgment (good or bad) about the films I watch. He was Roger Ebert.I loved to see him spar with Richard Roeper in the early 2000's on movies as inconsequential as Death to Smoochy. Clearly, Ebert put his heart on his sleeve when it came to most films and it offended him the most when a film wasted his time. On the other hand, when he adored a film, his praise was simply poetic. He had a way with words, man.. and he knew a good film when he saw one. If Ebert said to go see it, I would usually follow suit. His criticism was astute, meaningful and 9 times out of ten, summed up what he just watched in the most precise way.Life Itself honors him in the way he should've always been honored. Someone far beyond your average, pompous film critic. An average midwestern guy who loves a good flick, but smart enough to have received a Pulitzer Prize. Such a common man's film critic, he might as well have stood on a soapbox outside the theater he attended in Chicago to profess his feelings. Life Itself articulates the anger we all felt when he lost the ability to speak. We see Roger struggle to live any kind of peaceful life, having to constantly go to the hospital for physical therapy. Filmed just a few months prior to his death, it is difficult and angering to watch him suffer. One must wonder, had Roger been able to speak, what would he say? Had his life turned into one of those bad movies he's reviewed in his lifetime?But what will never change from Ebert is his profound affect on the film industry and how fellow filmmakers revered him, even though he may have maligned their films when he felt it was necessary. There's really something to be said about that. Thumbs way, way up.

For the first time in years, I found myself crying at artistry of a film, and I didn't know why. This documentary does not innovate in any way. It shows no exceptional mastery of any cinematic techniques. It does not do anything that hasn't been done before. In its most cynical extreme it can even be seen as the exploitation of a great man's death for financial gain.But I cried.Where this documentary shines through is its subject. Roger Ebert. A man whose mere passion cemented criticism as an art. A man whose love for film carried film to a new height, and permanently changed the industry. A man who lived life as much as he could live it, and in doing so inspired generations of artists- and will undoubtedly inspire countless more to come. There are few lives that have changed cinema, criticism, world culture as much as Roger Ebert. And the one way this film The one way in which this film is more than mediocre is that it celebrates the life of a titan. And when that titan is Roger Ebert- that's all you need.God bless you, Mr. Ebert. May you rest in piece

Crafted with care, told with affection & paying a heartfelt tribute to the life & career of arguably the most celebrated film critic of all time, Life Itself is both an informative documentary & a captivating biopic that offers an interesting insight into the life of Roger Ebert whose passion & love for cinema made him an iconic figure not only in film criticism but the whole film culture.Interspersed with archive footages, interviews with colleagues, friends & family, snippets from his famous TV show with Gene Siskel, images from few of the lesser-known flicks he gave his voice to, and also including live sessions with Roger Ebert himself when he was battling cancer, Life Itself is an expertly assembled documentary that sensibly explores the remarkable legacy he left behind.Directed by Steve James, Life Itself attempts to find a fine balance between Ebert's personal life & work but ends up being more about Ebert the man than Ebert the legendary critic, which definitely isn't a complaint for whatever moments did make its way into the final picture is highly fascinating. The film glances at both the positive & negative aspects of Ebert in equal measure but never with a judging eye.It is amusing when discussing Beyond the Valley of the Dolls which was written by Ebert himself, is painful when showing his fight with cancer & the resulting physical disability, is emotionally moving in the most unexpected moments but the best part of Life Itself is the Ebert & Siskel segment for it ingeniously captures their often contrasting opinions, their endless disputes, their initial contempt yet tremendous respect for each other and the lifelong friendship that was born from it.One an overall scale, Life Itself is a touching, entertaining, inspiring, heartwarming & heartbreaking cinema that emits a deep sense of warmth throughout its runtime. Filmmakers filming a biopic such as this often have the tendency to get a little carried away but it's good to see James not mourning over Ebert's death and instead celebrating his life & the profound impact he had on so many lives. Brimming with passion, love & endearment from beginning to end, Life Itself is a must-watch for all. Two-thumbs way up!

There is something surreal about a film critic writing a review of a documentary about a film critic, but Roger Ebert was no ordinary critic.On the surface, Life Itself is a about a man who had an amazing influence on American filmmakers. Roger Ebert was one half of America's most famous film critic team: Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert. Ebert was the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, and was also the first critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The film tells the story of how Ebert and Siskel came to work together, and the story of their relationship. It also tells the story of how Roger met his wife at the age of 50, and his candid approach to his battle with alcoholism.But this is also a film about cancer; living with it or supporting a partner who is battling with it. Roger wanted to be very transparent about his illness, and so he invited Director, Steve James, to his hospital room to speak candidly about his life; warts and all. James had directed several documentaries about characters in Chicago, Ebert and Siskel's home town, including Hoop Dreams, which Ebert named best film of 1994.Watching this film is not a comfortable experience. It's confronting to watch footage of a man who has been severely deformed by surgery, watching him getting hooked up to machines to give him sustenance because he can no longer eat nor drink the way he used to. However watching this film is also uplifting and inspiring as you witness the interactions of a man who remains jovial despite his physical condition. The viewer sees his determination to continue to sneak out to cinemas to see and critique films while he was in hospital and his desire to continue to communicate with the world. At the time this was filmed, Roger had to use his computer to "talk" to people, but the manner in which he would use his eyes and hand gestures to give life and meaning to a robotic voice is remarkable.Voice actor Stephen Stanton provides narration for excerpts sourced from Ebert's Autobiography, Life Itself (upon which this film is based), in a voice that mimics "young Roger Ebert". It includes interviews with film critics, filmmakers, friends, and footage of the rivalry and bitterness between Siskel and Ebert during the filming of their television shows. His wife, Chaz Ebert, honours us with some deeply personal stories, out of respect for Roger's desire to be open about his life.Life Itself was an official selection for the Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Classics, two film festivals he frequented and loved for many years when he was physically capable of attending them, and it is an example of how a documentary can touch you as deeply and emotionally as any drama can.If you love film theory and know who Roger Ebert is, or if you have no idea about who Roger Ebert is but enjoy a good story, this is a film for you. If you know someone battling with cancer, or if you want to watch a film that will resonate with you and change you forever, see this film.This review was published in The Northsider. Source: http://thenorthsider.com.au/life-itself/