Life Itself (Steve James)

[Irish]

http://i.imgur.com/EIjxjz2.jpg?1

- IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382298/)
- Rotten Tomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/life_itself/)
- Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Itself_(2014_documentary_ film))

[Irish]

Yay because I liked Ebert and the movie is affecting.

It's a huge softball of a movie, though, and plays more like an extended eulogy for his friends and fans rather than a real documentary. James plays at the contrast and complement between the title and Ebert's illness a little too heavily to make his theme. There's a terse examination of his early years, his work at the Sun-Times, and his relationship with Siskel, mostly delivered in voiceover that's taken (I assume) directly from Ebert's memoir.

It's not quite dishonest, but it feels heavy handed and lopsided. No doubt the Ebert family's involvement played a huge part in what this became.

[Winston*]

It was pretty strange that Roeper wasn't even mentioned.

[Pop Trash]

I cried.

[Pop Trash]

It's not quite dishonest, but it feels heavy handed and lopsided. No doubt the Ebert family's involvement played a huge part in what this became.

While I agree, I also don't think there was a whole lot to criticize about the way Ebert lived his life, especially in the later years. I mean the guy did just keep chugging on and writing more and more despite cancer, feeding tubes, and a large portion of his face removed.

I appreciated the examination of what Siskel & Ebert did for film criticism, both good and bad, even though that criticism seems more silly than ever with what film culture and journalism has turned into in the 21st Century.

[Mal]

I cried.

As did I but the film oddly enough feels like its missing something in its portrait of Ebert. hmmm.

[Sycophant]

This film was deeply affecting for me. And its strengths are illuminated when reading this in contrast to Supermensch.

Think I've gotta read Ebert's book some time.