Life Itself

Roger Ebert's story is lovingly presented by Steve James (Hoop Dreams, which was highly praised by Siskel and Ebert) Ebert was a child prodigy who showed an early aptitude for writing. He could bang out a film review in 30 minutes. His life is presented-warts and all-including his battle with the bottle (he met his wife at AA), his heated relationship with fellow critic Gene Siskel and his rather prickly personality. He was an only child and a high achiever producing many nonfiction volumes discussing computers, and films among other topics. The scenes in the hospital during his last years battling illness are at once painful but inspiring. He certainly chose the right woman, a good woman who remained with him until the end. Missing, though were comments from co-hosts after Siskel, namely Richard Roeper; perhaps he declined to participate. So, this was a life well lived about a man who loved the movies. At the risk of sounding unoriginal: thumbs way up for this doc and for Mr. Ebert.