Simply Perfect

Just perfect...

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

At this film's outset, Ebert talks about movies being "machines for empathy," and this film was just that. It moved me, to tears and to laughter. James managed to capture the beauty of a well lived, even with only a couple months to work. There were so many little moments that were beautiful, and I think that's true for all of us.

Now admittedly, I was not very familiar with Roger Ebert's work or career until right before I watched this film; I actually was surprised to learn that he had passed away, due to the fact that I still see reviews from his website everywhere. My only real knowledge of him was that he was essentially the go-to film critic, and the primary face of film criticism. But after watching this film, I don't feel like I know every single bit and piece of the man's work, and because of that I feel like this movie did exactly what it wanted to do, for better or for worse. "Life Itself" strikes the perfect balance between informing the viewer on its subject while still not spoon feeding the viewer; we aren't given every little detail of Ebert's life, but a flowing narrative that informs us on his character and his career. This movie serves more it seems as a visual companion piece of his autobiography, as many excerpts from it are used in the film, and in that regard I think it really works very well. This film never paints Ebert as perfect, but it always shows the right balance of sympathy and realism to really feel like Roger Ebert as a person is encapsulated well in this film. This movie isn't about a movie critic as much as it's about a man's life. A man who just happened to have a deep passion for film criticism. And ultimately, this film does an excellent job of representing a man whose impact on the realm film criticism very well, albeit with the occasionally pacing issue or interview that feels a little unnecessary. Overall, I can definitely recommend "Life Itself" to any movie fan. 8.7/10

From what I read, it was important to Roger Ebert for the film to show how he looked at the very end. It is definitely difficult and uncomfortable to watch, but that is of course why Ebert insisted that it be included. The problem for me was that they just kept going back to it again and again, and after a certain point, it seemed gratuitous and unnecessary. Yes, it is tough to watch him like that, and I didn't need to be reminded of that throughout the entire movie (it is interspersed with a mostly linear story of Ebert's life and career).I thought the best moments were what was shown during the "Siskel and Ebert" years...maybe someone should make a documentary just about that! There are so many laudatory reviews on IMDb that I felt I should provide a different perspective. It was by no means terrible, but not at all deserving of all the hype it has received.

At first I felt that a documentary about a movie critic wouldn't have a lot to say. Would it be a bit self indulgent? But director Steve James lovingly conveys the interesting and genuinely accomplished life and career of Roger Ebert. For someone dying of a horrible facial cancer, Ebert shows a remarkable openness and trust in James. It's terrible to watch the gaping hole in his jaw, and his throat being suctioned, but he displays a fierce will to live. You suspect he must be in great pain, but those eyes sparkle, and he presses on with emails and even starts a blog. He says focusing on his writing saves him. His wife, Chaz, also displays incredible openness on camera. She can't let him go, but is as solid as a rock in her love and a source of boundless humour and optimism. She admits they met at alcoholics anonymous. He remarkably gave up drinking as a young man, despite it being at the centre of his life as a popular and hard partying journalist. His passion for film through newspapers and TV propelled him to international stardom. The film deftly conveys how his and Gene Siskel's reviews could make or break a film. It asks whether they were too influential, and whether they should have befriended many directors instead of staying more remote. Overall, this film is very well done.