Review of Life Itself (2014) by Allan C — 11 Jan 2015

I'm not sure this documentary on film critic Roger Ebert would appeal to all audiences, but this is essential viewing for film buffs or those who like to debate films. Siskel & Ebert were the most influential critics of their time, if not all time.

The phrase "Two Thumbs-Up" would be put front and center for any film that got the thumbs up from both Chicago based film critics. This documentary tells the life story of Roger Ebert, intercutting that narrative with his end of life process fighting cancer, which left him incapable of speech.

Despite not being able to talk and having limited mobility, Ebert continued reviewing films and writing on his blog, right up until the end of his life. I think what I liked most were the personal elements of the film that I had not heard before.

We all knew about the contentious relationship between Siskel and Ebert, the distain among some film critics of their "dumbing down" of film criticism, and also the massive power they held over the film industry.

What I didn't know was Ebert's late life marriage to an African American woman who marched with Martin Luther King Jr., his person relationships to many film industry people (who he would continue to give scathing thumbs down reviews to on many occasions) and his very moving reflection on his life and his end of life outlook.

I found this a very informative and moving documentary in the very best of ways.