1/11/2015 0 Comments 'Life Itself' Movie ReviewGiven my fascination with film and admiration for Roger Ebert as a writer, it was practically a given that I would enjoy the documentary on Ebert's life, Life Itself. And I did. But does that mean that the film offers anything for those who didn't know Ebert's work? Absolutely.
Based on and featuring excerpts from Ebert's memoir of the same name, the film dares to strip away the legend of the most influential film critic ever and give us the story of the man himself and his personal life - upbringing, alcoholism, marriage, and battle with cancer - mostly told through Ebert's own narration. Skimming the details on Ebert's journalistic career to focus on the more personal details, those among the audience looking for what went into Roger's reviews or what film criticism was to him won't find it here. When looking at the bigger picture, you're truthfully only getting half the story. However, for those seeking the less-explored personal half, I would highly recommend this film to viewers who would like to know more about Roger as a person. As stated previously, topics such as home life, his marriage and troubling alcoholism are covered in detail, the most significant of which being Ebert's battle with thyroid cancer. Intercut with back story and interviews with some of Hollywood's biggest names (including director Martin Scorsese) are clips of Ebert's trying final months in the hospital alongside his devoted wife, Chaz Ebert. Screenwriters of Hollywood, this is the love story you should be using as your reference. Unscripted and passionate without dominating the film's focus, the romance between Roger and Chaz Ebert is purely genuine. Chaz is a woman strong and endearing, standing by Roger through the most enduring of times. And enduring times they were. Fans of Ebert and newcomers to his work alike will be surprised to know just how much of a toll Ebert's cancer took on his health. Unable to speak, eat, drink normally, or even walk, Ebert soldiered on with his reviews and blog posts, an admirable smile never leaving his eye. As odd of a comparison as it sounds, I'm going to liken this film to Mozart and the Whale, a romance between two people with autism. Mozart suffers as a romance, but understandably so, as the writers were more concerned with accurately representing autism than anything else. Once you accept that the writers' intentions are in the right place, you accept the film for what it is, and it grows on you. The same applies here: no, I didn't get the journalistic coverage of Ebert's career that I was hoping for, but given what we have, this is still a very emotional and passionate documentary about love for what you do and love for those around you. In honor of Roger's timeless trademark, I'm giving Life Itself a thumbs up.
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