Review of Life Itself (2014) by Nick M — 06 Jul 2014

I remember watching Roger Ebert on Sneak Previews loving the way he spoke about movies the way I thought about them and wondering why other critics couldn't see them that way, at least in my view. And that's what made him so special.

Ebert said movies are "a machine that generates empathy" or, as a hick like me would say it, they make you feel something. As soon as he said that I knew why I loved his reviews. And that's why I knew I had to see this documentary.

What director Steve James has given us, with lots of help from his subject, is something wonderful. It's wonderful because he pulls no punches. This is no glossed over account of some guy's hero's life. We see the whole Ebert here. The man who evolved from a bit of an egomaniac to a soul made whole by the entrance of the woman who was the love of his wife and everything in between.

We learn a lot about Roger Ebert in this film, too much for me go go into here. But we learn most about him in the way he handled his illness and impending death.

Roger Ebert's story is moving, sad, funny and uncomfortable all at the same time. In the end, he showed courage that might surprise many.

It's too bad he didn't live to see the finished film with the people he loved but, wherever he is, I'm pretty sure Ebert is giving "Life Itself" a big thumbs up.