Review of Life Itself (2014) by Joel M — 05 Jan 2015

The documentary "Life Itself" which chronicles the life of the late, great film critic Roger Ebert gets a gargantuan thumbs up. It is the most heartfelt documentary I have ever seen. Director Steve James shows Ebert in the hospital & rehab centers during his final days.

But at the same time also proficiently presents Ebert's entire personal & professional biography; including his childhood, his professional rise as a talented journalist, his move into the film criticism realm, his past struggles with alcohol addiction, his professional partnership with fellow movie critic Gene Siskel, his romance with his wife Chaz, and sadly his death; pretty much his "life itself".

Ebert was and still is my favorite film critic of all time. Starting as a young teen, my favorite television programs were the Siskel & Ebert film criticism shows. I would have done 1000 "thumbs ups" just to watch the show on a weekly basis; thank God I didn't have to, that would have had a drastic effect on my manual dexterity; which would be needed for vital functions as using the television remote control.

Anyways, "Life Itself" also includes interviews with Ebert lifelong friends, Siskel & Ebert television producers, his wife Chaz, the legendary movie director Martin Scorsese, Independent film directors Ava DuVernay & Ramin Bahrani, documentary film directors Werner Herzog & Errol Morris, Gene Siskel's widow, and fellow movie critics Richard Corliss & A.

O. Scott. Now yes, "Life Itself" is a tearjerker but at the same time beautifully celebrates life. So head into the Thumberdome and "ebert" your eyes & heart to a "Life Itself" viewing.

OK, that' s the end of my review. The pun balcony is closed. *****Excellent.