Life Itself

Name: Life Itself
Genre: Biography, Documentary
Released: July 4, 2014
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Chaz Ebert, Errol Morris, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese, Roger Ebert

2014

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Universal acclaim based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 90 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 90 Ratings

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Life Itself

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: July 4, 2014 | R

Starring: Chaz Ebert, Errol Morris, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese, Roger Ebert, Werner Herzog

Summary: In 2013, we lost Roger Ebert—arguably the nation’s best-known and most influential movie critic. Based on his memoir of the same name, Life Itself recounts Ebert’s fascinating and flawed journey—from politicized school newspaperman, to Chicago Sun-Times movie critic, to Pulitzer Prize winner, to television household name, to the miracle ofIn 2013, we lost Roger Ebert—arguably the nation’s best-known and most influential movie critic. Based on his memoir of the same name, Life Itself recounts Ebert’s fascinating and flawed journey—from politicized school newspaperman, to Chicago Sun-Times movie critic, to Pulitzer Prize winner, to television household name, to the miracle of finding love at 50, and finally his “third act” as a major voice on the Internet when he could no longer physically speak. [Magnolia Pictures]… Expand

Director: Steve James and Steve James

Genre(s): Biography, Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 120 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist Chase Whale

Jan 27, 2014

James tells this unapologetic story with little sympathy, as per Ebert’s wishes, and a lot of passion—he wants the audience to really know who Roger Ebert was, and understand the importance of his work. Read full review

100

James Berardinelli

Jul 3, 2014

This is a uniquely powerful motion picture, the kind of open and honest portrayal I can't ever recall having seen about a celebrity. Life Itself stands not only as a moving piece of documentary cinema but an epitaph. Read full review

100

Simon Kinnear

Dec 10, 2014

The film’s power lies in its use of archive footage, voiceover and even Ebert’s computerised speech translator to keep the writer’s voice alive. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Jul 5, 2014

Life itself, that loaded two-word phrase, is what Roger really wrote about when he wrote about movies. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Dec 15, 2014

The heart of Life Itself, and the part of the film that’s most instructive even for those familiar with Ebert’s story, is the long middle section dealing with his stormy, never-resolved relationship with Gene Siskel. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Jul 3, 2014

Life Itself may sound like it's a film that would only be of interest to those who knew Ebert personally or to fellow film critics, but the opposite is true. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Jun 29, 2014

There's a sense throughout of Steve James rushing and dutifully covering all his bases to evade accusations of creating a puff piece. Read full review

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MovieReviews

Jul 5, 2014

An uplifting and mesmerizing experience that should change your view of life. You can take Roger Ebert's life for an example, he lived his life enjoying every second of it and fought up to his last day where he had to let go and not because sickness took over him, but because he felt it isAn uplifting and mesmerizing experience that should change your view of life. You can take Roger Ebert's life for an example, he lived his life enjoying every second of it and fought up to his last day where he had to let go and not because sickness took over him, but because he felt it is the right time. Two thumbs up, and may God bless your soul.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

RatedRex

Jan 7, 2016

Roger Ebert was the first columnist I read as a kid. I read him from 1967 until his death. While in college, in the mid 70s, I created the Film Society at UIC. I wanted to start out with a bang, so I called Ebert to see if he would honor our inaugural screening by introducing "Citizen Kane".Roger Ebert was the first columnist I read as a kid. I read him from 1967 until his death. While in college, in the mid 70s, I created the Film Society at UIC. I wanted to start out with a bang, so I called Ebert to see if he would honor our inaugural screening by introducing "Citizen Kane". I was expecting to get the receptionist, but to my surprise Ebert answered the phone. I was a little nervous, but before long he and I were engaged in a pleasant conversation. He took me up on my offer. And though we disagreed completely on "Citizen Kane", he came back the following year and introduced "Nashville". There is a little part of me that still holds dearly to Ebert's influence. I was always impressed by his passion for the cinema, and his passion for life itself. This is a good, heartwarming documentary. It is a love story of the highest order. It is a shame that it wasn't nominated for Best Documentary. I still miss him.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

Wonderfully rich in detail and absolutely engaging from start to finish, this is a documentary that does what it can to talk about an individual's life and make it so we totally understand both their 'ins' and their 'outs'. Like the title says, it's just Life Itself. In this case, it's anWonderfully rich in detail and absolutely engaging from start to finish, this is a documentary that does what it can to talk about an individual's life and make it so we totally understand both their 'ins' and their 'outs'. Like the title says, it's just Life Itself. In this case, it's an individual who has inspired multitudes of filmmakers, film lovers, analysts, and writers. My two thumbs are raised up high, one for Mr. Ebert, and one for this movie. Very well done Steve James and company, very well done.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lyn

Jan 26, 2015

I loved Roger Ebert's writing ... sometimes I still find myself seeing a movie and wishing I could know what he thought of it. The film version of "Life Itself" might be even better than the memoir, which often got bogged down in details like what brand of cigarettes were smoked by everyoneI loved Roger Ebert's writing ... sometimes I still find myself seeing a movie and wishing I could know what he thought of it. The film version of "Life Itself" might be even better than the memoir, which often got bogged down in details like what brand of cigarettes were smoked by everyone he knew back in the day. His spirit comes across in the film -- some of his less positive characteristics as well as the ones for which people loved & admired him. The film is almost as much about his wife as about him ... but it's hard to begrudge that since Chaz is a heroic person in her own right.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Mar 13, 2015

Siskel and Ebert are in heaven right now still reviewing movies. Life Itself. I like it when Documentary's show you something you didn't really know about, I didn't know Roger was a alcoholic until I watched the Documentary and they is one part in the Documentary when there talked about GeneSiskel and Ebert are in heaven right now still reviewing movies. Life Itself. I like it when Documentary's show you something you didn't really know about, I didn't know Roger was a alcoholic until I watched the Documentary and they is one part in the Documentary when there talked about Gene Siskel death and it was truly upsetting and really powerful that I almost cried and you will too if you get a chance to watch it. The score was so classy and so nostalgic that I loved it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ananisapta

Mar 9, 2015

Director Steve James has created a haunting documentary of a brilliant, warmhearted, courageous man of letters who lived his life to the last particle and died in bed surrounded by friends. If you want to feel good, stop there.

Great art should haunt its audience, and I found this filmDirector Steve James has created a haunting documentary of a brilliant, warmhearted, courageous man of letters who lived his life to the last particle and died in bed surrounded by friends. If you want to feel good, stop there.

Great art should haunt its audience, and I found this film especially disturbing because of its unflinching portrait of the American way of death. However much I admire the protagonist's courage and his family's devotion and the commitment of his caregivers, there is an undeniable grotesquerie to Ebert's protracted ending which is visible from the beginning of this film. It is not for those who believe that virtue should be rewarded in this life, or that celebrity confers immunity.

Along the way, you will get to know Ebert's stellar colleague and artistic foil, Gene Siskal. Though given less room, Siskal was more than Ebert's sidekick and seems to have lived equally broadly and to have encountered a brisker though no less tragic fate. Also prominent are Ebert's loving family and several of those who helped promote his career or simply stood by and wondered.

To make a film about one of filmdom's preeminent critics takes a courage all its own. I would say Steve James has succeeded admirably. To criticize a film about Roger Ebert takes almost more hubris than even I can summon, but the only bad thing I can say is that James succeeded unexpectedly in haunting me with his powerful images.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alwayswatching

Jul 19, 2014

Life Itself is a documentary about the life the legendary film critic, Roger Ebert. The movie is based on his autobiography, which is also titled "Life itself". The movie is full of intriguing and personal moments in the life of Ebert and events that led to his death.

Growing up outsideLife Itself is a documentary about the life the legendary film critic, Roger Ebert. The movie is based on his autobiography, which is also titled "Life itself". The movie is full of intriguing and personal moments in the life of Ebert and events that led to his death.

Growing up outside USA, I never watched Ebert's TV shows ("Sneak Previews" and "At the Movies") and I never read his critics (on Chicago Sun-Times). This movie shed some light on Ebert's life and showed me why he was such an influential figure. But at the same time, I could not care about Ebert more than any other successful professional person I know. The movie shows what an exceptional critic Ebert was, and at the same time, shows he was not very different from any other ordinary man.

If you like cinema and history of it or if you like movies about movies, Life Itself is the right movie for you. Otherwise, Life Itself can be boring and you will leave the theater asking your self "Why should I care about Ebert?"… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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