Life Itself

The life and times of renowned film critic Roger Ebert, as told by the man himself only days before his death. Fittingly, his story fits the tried-and-true redemption arc quite well. Ebert could be a curmudgeon, but that deep-rooted, fiery passion is also what made him so magnetic and thoroughly trustworthy. It also made for plenty of fireworks opposite his more calm-faced, sardonic rival/partner, Gene Siskel. Though much is made of Ebert's late-life metamorphosis after meeting his wife, Chaz, it was this combustible relationship and eventual peace with Siskel that I found most interesting. A pity we never had the chance to hear the other side of that story, as Gene passed more than fifteen years ago. Moving, witty, revealing and meaningful, Ebert's was a life well-lived, full of lessons learned and sacrifices made. Footage of his day-to-day life after losing his jaw to cancer can be hard to watch, but the man himself never flinches. He wanted us to see one reality of the disease, and the lasting impact it leaves behind is harsh and unshakable.