X
- 2014
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 1 m
- 2014
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 1 m
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 ...
- 2014
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 1 m
- 2014
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 1 m
Life Itself
8.2
Where to Watch
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 ...
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 35 Critic Reviews
87
100% Positive
35 Reviews
35 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 35 Critic Reviews
87
100% Positive
35 Reviews
35 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
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.
The irony is that Ebert famously lost his actual voice. Yet as the extraordinary documentary Life Itself shows, that couldn’t quiet one of America’s most beloved critics and cultural commentators.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 93 User Ratings
8.2
89% Positive
83 Ratings
83 Ratings
5% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
5% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 93 User Ratings
8.2
89% Positive
83 Ratings
83 Ratings
5% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
5% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
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 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.
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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.
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James — the director of Hoop Dreams and The Interrupters — gives us a sense of Ebert as a man who kept reinventing life as he went along — out of necessity, sure, though he also took some pleasure in adapting. It couldn't always have been easy, but that, too, is part of the story.
Life itself, that loaded two-word phrase, is what Roger really wrote about when he wrote about movies.
Life Itself is a joy for people who love movies or who love anything with an unwavering passion.
Eloquent, it is surprisingly moving and beautifully structured.
There's a sense throughout of Steve James rushing and dutifully covering all his bases to evade accusations of creating a puff piece.
Documentary film maker Steve James' story of Roger Ebert's life in a documentary form is the best cinematic experience for fans and critics to enjoy. Reading his reviews inspired me to explain my feelings and elegant details toward a film in writing; his life is interesting and so Siskels. Grade A
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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 is the right time. Two thumbs up, and may God bless your soul.
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I was wondering what happened to the well-known critic, Roger Ebert, whenever it comes to 2013 and ahead movies. Not seemed to know he was dead in the first place, I decided to watch Life Itself. Wow, even critics have spirits as well.
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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 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?"
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Production Company
CNN Films,
Film Rites,
Kartemquin Films
Release Date Jul 4, 2014
Duration 2 h 1 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline The only thing Roger loved more than movies
Awards
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Win & 6 Nominations
Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA)
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Indiana Film Journalists Association, US
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations