Jared Curtis 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

CinemaClown Crafted with care, told with affection & paying a heartfelt tribute to the life & career of arguably the most celebrated film critic of all time, Life Itself is both an informative documentary & a captivating biopic that offers an interesting insight into the life of Roger Ebert whose passion & love for cinema made him an iconic figure not only in film criticism but the whole film culture.Interspersed with archive footages, interviews with colleagues, friends & family, snippets from his famous TV show with Gene Siskel, images from few of the lesser-known flicks he gave his voice to, and also including live sessions with Roger Ebert himself when he was battling cancer, Life Itself is an expertly assembled documentary that sensibly explores the remarkable legacy he left behind.Directed by Steve James, Life Itself attempts to find a fine balance between Ebert's personal life & work but ends up being more about Ebert the man than Ebert the legendary critic, which definitely isn't a complaint for whatever moments did make its way into the final picture is highly fascinating. The film glances at both the positive & negative aspects of Ebert in equal measure but never with a judging eye.It is amusing when discussing Beyond the Valley of the Dolls which was written by Ebert himself, is painful when showing his fight with cancer & the resulting physical disability, is emotionally moving in the most unexpected moments but the best part of Life Itself is the Ebert & Siskel segment for it ingeniously captures their often contrasting opinions, their endless disputes, their initial contempt yet tremendous respect for each other and the lifelong friendship that was born from it.One an overall scale, Life Itself is a touching, entertaining, inspiring, heartwarming & heartbreaking cinema that emits a deep sense of warmth throughout its runtime. Filmmakers filming a biopic such as this often have the tendency to get a little carried away but it's good to see James not mourning over Ebert's death and instead celebrating his life & the profound impact he had on so many lives. Brimming with passion, love & endearment from beginning to end, Life Itself is a must-watch for all. Two-thumbs way up!

bbewnylorac 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.

Chaedy Ritherdon There is something surreal about a film critic writing a review of a documentary about a film critic, but Roger Ebert was no ordinary critic.On the surface, Life Itself is a about a man who had an amazing influence on American filmmakers. Roger Ebert was one half of America's most famous film critic team: Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert. Ebert was the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, and was also the first critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The film tells the story of how Ebert and Siskel came to work together, and the story of their relationship. It also tells the story of how Roger met his wife at the age of 50, and his candid approach to his battle with alcoholism.But this is also a film about cancer; living with it or supporting a partner who is battling with it. Roger wanted to be very transparent about his illness, and so he invited Director, Steve James, to his hospital room to speak candidly about his life; warts and all. James had directed several documentaries about characters in Chicago, Ebert and Siskel's home town, including Hoop Dreams, which Ebert named best film of 1994.Watching this film is not a comfortable experience. It's confronting to watch footage of a man who has been severely deformed by surgery, watching him getting hooked up to machines to give him sustenance because he can no longer eat nor drink the way he used to. However watching this film is also uplifting and inspiring as you witness the interactions of a man who remains jovial despite his physical condition. The viewer sees his determination to continue to sneak out to cinemas to see and critique films while he was in hospital and his desire to continue to communicate with the world. At the time this was filmed, Roger had to use his computer to "talk" to people, but the manner in which he would use his eyes and hand gestures to give life and meaning to a robotic voice is remarkable.Voice actor Stephen Stanton provides narration for excerpts sourced from Ebert's Autobiography, Life Itself (upon which this film is based), in a voice that mimics "young Roger Ebert". It includes interviews with film critics, filmmakers, friends, and footage of the rivalry and bitterness between Siskel and Ebert during the filming of their television shows. His wife, Chaz Ebert, honours us with some deeply personal stories, out of respect for Roger's desire to be open about his life.Life Itself was an official selection for the Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Classics, two film festivals he frequented and loved for many years when he was physically capable of attending them, and it is an example of how a documentary can touch you as deeply and emotionally as any drama can.If you love film theory and know who Roger Ebert is, or if you have no idea about who Roger Ebert is but enjoy a good story, this is a film for you. If you know someone battling with cancer, or if you want to watch a film that will resonate with you and change you forever, see this film.This review was published in The Northsider. Source: http://thenorthsider.com.au/life-itself/