Last year, the most renowned, appreciated and feared film critic to have ever lived passed away: Roger Ebert. Steve James directed a documentary, called Life Itself, recounting Ebert’s life, and many people took the time to talk about him and his inspiring life, among them Martin Scorsese, who also produced the documentary. The documentary had already been in production before Ebert passed away – it is, technically, an adaptation of the memoir he wrote in 2011.
Ebert evolved to be one of the most influential social commentators in the United States, and the documentary tells the story of his glamorous and entertaining life. It also recounts his challenges and battles with cancer and physical disability, while still remaining to be powerful in his writing and criticism; he was still a force to be reckoned with.
Let’s watch the trailer.
This documentary is a story about film and the passion someone can have for film, and how film can change your life. Many of us who love film and write about film ourselves will find great resonance in his sentiments, I think. The documentary may be a lot less interesting for those who don’t really share that passion – however, I’m sure many will still be moved by his sheer will-power to keep writing as he goes through his life and physique-alerting surgeries, which caused him to not be able to eat or write properly anymore.
Just two days before his death, Ebert concluded his final article for the Chicago Sun-Times with “So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.” He passed away on April 4, 2013.
His tale is a very inspiring one, and I’m looking forward to see Life Itself.
The movie was premiered at the Sundance festival earlier this year, where it was praised by the critics. CNN has bought the rights to air it on television (unknown when), and it is scheduled for a limited release in American cinemas on July 4, 2014. Whether it will be distributed internationally is currently unknown.
Is Life Itself a movie you’re interested in seeing? Did you read Roger Ebert’s reviews?
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