I am not an expert on the life of Roger Ebert. Sure, I've read his reviews, and seen clips of his quarrels with Gene Siskel in At The Movies, though I was too young to appreciate them in their time. But even an avid watcher of the show or reader of all his reviews will still be able to feel more acquainted with the man after watching LIFE ITSELF. Ebert's personality comes out loud and clear as his story unfolds, starting with his time as a journalist and working towards his career as a film critic. Director Steve James (who also directed HOOP DREAMS) caught Ebert five months before he died of cancer, and created a beautiful piece to commemorate his life.
The real beauty about Roger Ebert was his desire for truth. Ebert believed that films teach us about empathy, revealing a little bit of the world to us that we may not have seen before. He wanted people to see things as they were, including himself... there is a lot of footage in this film of him after the cancer struck and he had his operation. While initially this is startling, he seems so comfortable and full of life that after a while you grow accustomed to it.
Matching Ebert's outlook, this film does not hold back. It portrays Ebert as truthfully as possible, even his more childish moments. And it also shows the long line of people who were affected by him. And it's hard not to be affected by the man... even after he lost his ability to speak, he still had a smile that would catch fire to everyone in the room.
Overall, it's a heartwarming tribute to a beloved icon in the film industry. To borrow from the man himself, I give it Two Thumbs Up.
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