“The movies are like a machine that generates empathy.” So says Roger Ebert in the opening scenes of this honest, warm, emotional documentary about the prolific film critic and social commentator. As a lifelong enthusiast about the magic of movies, Ebert encouraged many emerging directors, including Werner Herzog and Martin Scorsese. To hear the latter talk about the impact Ebert had on his career is one of the documentary’s highlights.
Filming began only five months before Ebert’s death in April 2013, but Life Itself delivers what feels like a complete picture of a complex man’s life, from his days at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, to his time on the small screen with Gene Siskel and his subsequent ascent as one of America’s most influential cultural figures.
Although lauding Ebert’s many accomplishments, the film doesn’t whitewash his imperfections, including his alcoholism and at-times arrogant treatment of Siskel. Much of the film’s emotional heft and heart come from Chaz, who married Ebert when he was 50. When he lost the ability to speak in the 2000s, she became his voice. It’s troubling to see Ebert struggle through his last months, but the tenderness between Chaz and Ebert holds its own next to any of the great cinematic romances.
Should You See It ? Two thumbs up. —S.Z.
Viewed at Landmark Plaza Frontenac
