Film Review – Life Itself

Part of me didn’t even want to see “Life Itself,” much less review it. What a strange experience it is to criticize a documentary about a film critic, especially one who influenced an entire generation of writers, myself included. I was concerned about the picture’s treatment of Roger Ebert’s considerable ego and its interest in his private life, avoiding sticky subjects to canonize the man as the world continues to mourn his loss (he passed away in 2013). My fears were unfounded, as director Steve James has crafted a lovely ode to a colorful, almost magical life, unafraid to approach Ebert’s unsavory behaviors and appetites. It’s a layered look at experience and acceptance from a most eloquent man, and while it indulges an inevitable sense of sadness, it manages to capture the essence of the subject in surprising ways. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com