Life Itself
Roger Ebert was the first film critic awarded a Pulitzer Prize (1975), writing for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 to his death in 2013.
From 1978-99 he formed a film review partnership on television with Gene Siskel (Chicago Tribune). Anyone who feels David and Margaret argued should witness Roger and Gene in action: that was warfare!
Based on the eponymous Ebert book, this doco traces his career to the last months of his life. His lower jaw bone had been removed due to cancer and there is some confronting viewing that may cause you to wonder at what point does documentary arc over into voyeurism, but Ebert seems unperturbed stating, “this is my film too”.
He could not eat by conventional means, could not speak, but kept writing until his death. His will to be and to do is inspiring – proving his dictum: “The movies are like a machine that generates empathy.” (MMu)
3.5/5 stars
By Michael Muir
