Review of Life Itself (2014) by Ray H — 05 Sep 2014

An excellent documentary. It is well written and very well edited. Scenes of Ebert's rehab from repeated battles with throat/jaw bone cancer are shown. The doc flashes back to various career and personal life events. I did not know: he was an only child, he had won a Pulitzer Prize, he was an alcoholic, he met his wife at AA, he first married at age 50, and he wrote a screen play with Russ Meyer (BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS).

There were some negative elements to Ebert's life/personality. There are very few saints amongst us. He seems he was, at times, full of himself and a bit of an a**hole. This character trait can be seen in footage of the Siskel and Ebert show. Siskel worked for the Chicago Tribune and was a Yale graduate. Ebert worked for the more working class Chicago Sun Times and graduated from the University of Illinois. There was an apparent social class clash. Siskel was an inter-circle friend of Hugh Hefner. He traveled with him and dabbled in that life style. Ebert hung out at a Chicago bar with other writers. He also hired ladies of the nite.

Siskel died of brain cancer. He knew of his illness for about a year. He told very few people. He and his wife did not tell their young children. They wanted his last months to be as normal as possible. He did not tell his employer and he did not tell Ebert. He felt everything would change in a negative way. Ebert was hurt by this. It is understandable. But, the tension between them was always there. So, I can understand Siskel's point-of-view. That rivalry was apparently, a permanent impediment to full friendship. People treat friends and intimates with kindness and generosity. This central feature seemed to be missing.

It was a very interesting and entertaining documentary. This film will appeal most to people with some knowledge of Ebert's TV show and his long movie review career.

It was a very good trip to the flics.