Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Ersbel Oraph According to this documentary Roger Ebert was some sort of journalistic Messiah. He was smart, oh so smart, a genius. He was the youngest whatever. He was everything superlative. A guy who failed at everything but movie reviews, which he did in less than half an hour according to one of talking heads.But this film is not for everyone. The rating does not reflect the distasteful images with Roger Ebert after his operation. And they are not only at the beginning of the film.Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

Eddie Cantillo Life Itself(2014) Starring:Roger Ebert,Chaz Ebert,Martin Scorsese,and A.O Scott Directed By:Steve James Review A long time I go while I was watching a requested review by filmmasteradam on the movie Daredevil. He started the review by talking about what Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert said in a video that has been shown to journalism students and while I was watching that part I was like I really like these film critics and from there I've been watching videos on Roger Ebert from Nostalgia Critic,Chris Stuckman and some times reading his reviews or watching them on movies I haven't seen yet and I still do. But when Roger passed I found myself at dismay if he's gone who am I suppose to listen to when it comes to watching movies or just wanting to see an opinion on another critic,Chris Stuckman is still just a young man who I'm pretty sure doesn't have a picture under Rotten Tomatoes along with JeremyJahns and Filmmasteradam takes forever uploading a movie review because he's busy with college.That was until I noticed that my father or mother put a subscription for Entertainment Weekly and every now and then read the reviews from either critics Chris Nashawaty or Owen Gilberman along with two other critics who are associated with Roger Matt Zoller Seltz and Richard Roper. Even though I don't agree with Roper too often. The movie is of course a documentary,which is hard for any person to watch because you have to be either fond and familiar to the subject matter. But I was fond and familiar with Roger Ebert and I'm watching this documentation on him thinking that the best thing I can give about any documentary is that it is informative and enjoyable which this is.When you would watch any of Roger's friends or coworkers talk about I honestly felt that like I think i know what it is there feeling about how his work was and the things he did or his relationships with his family. I think that is the highlight of this film. I didn't take this film for an emotional tour of a critic who I enjoyed and you shouldn't either unless you've watched a good amount of his shows of Siskel&Ebert or Ebert and Roper,but if you haven't then take the film/documentation tour for the same reason I did,a tour into a mans life who loved movies just as much as you should if you are on this site/group and when the film is finished always remember one thing that I like to say for every time I ask a question,make a statement or leave a link to a review of a film that I enjoyed, always remember that no matter how bad films can be that there is an art to them for their badness and for the others their goodness remember to enjoy the movies! I give Life Itself a two thumps up and a five out of five.

mpr-90 I was familiar with Roger Ebert from his various review programs and prolific writing, but I knew little about his life and history before watching this film. What a story!His struggles and weaknesses and life-experiences clearly did much to shape his worldview and now, in retrospect, I can see how all those things impacted his writing and reporting on film.This film does a great job of following Mr. Ebert's journey through life and the unflinching way it captures his battle at the end, facing death, was astonishing, painful, and ultimately inspiring.Two thumbs up, indeed!

bbewnylorac At first I felt that a documentary about a movie critic wouldn't have a lot to say. Would it be a bit self indulgent? But director Steve James lovingly conveys the interesting and genuinely accomplished life and career of Roger Ebert. For someone dying of a horrible facial cancer, Ebert shows a remarkable openness and trust in James. It's terrible to watch the gaping hole in his jaw, and his throat being suctioned, but he displays a fierce will to live. You suspect he must be in great pain, but those eyes sparkle, and he presses on with emails and even starts a blog. He says focusing on his writing saves him. His wife, Chaz, also displays incredible openness on camera. She can't let him go, but is as solid as a rock in her love and a source of boundless humour and optimism. She admits they met at alcoholics anonymous. He remarkably gave up drinking as a young man, despite it being at the centre of his life as a popular and hard partying journalist. His passion for film through newspapers and TV propelled him to international stardom. The film deftly conveys how his and Gene Siskel's reviews could make or break a film. It asks whether they were too influential, and whether they should have befriended many directors instead of staying more remote. Overall, this film is very well done.