Life Itself is a 2014 documentary chronicling the life of Roger Ebert, and based upon his memoir of the same title. It was directed by Steve James (whose earlier film Hoop Dreams was famously championed by Ebert on his TV show) and produced by Martin Scorsese and Steve Zaillian.
The movie chronicles Ebert's story from his early life in Champaign-Urbana to his career as a critic, first at the Chicago Sun-Times and later on TV as half of the famous team Siskel & Ebert all the way through his death (which occurred during filming). It looks at the impact he had on film criticism as well as the industry as a whole, and includes many interviews with people who worked with him and whose careers were impacted by his reviews.
Tropes appearing in this film:
- Author Appeal: Aside from his respectable work as a film critic, we see some of Roger's work as a screenwriter for the infamously raunchy film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Asked in an interview why a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic would choose to work with a sexplotation director like Russ Meyer, one of Ebert's friends considers for a moment and replies, "Boobs."
- Body Horror: Averted purposefully. Roger insisted that his non-functioning lower jaw be shown matter-of-factly to make the point that illness is a fact of life, nothing to be ashamed or frightened about.
- Catchphrase: "See you at the movies." Also his sign-off words for his last essay.
- Chicago: Most of the film takes place in the "windy city", where Ebert spent his entire career as a newspaperman.
- Face Death with Dignity: The film looks unflinchingly at Roger's declining last days and his struggles with physical therapy, but shows how he accepted his death as a natural part of life.
- Functional Alcoholic: Roger himself, it's revealed, until he joined a twelve-step program. He reminisces somewhat fondly on his hard-drinking reporter lifestyle, but realized he was drinking himself into an early grave.
- Go Out with a Smile: His wife Chaz describes his passing as very quiet and simple, with him just looking at her and the kids and smiling.
- Heads or Tails?: Often used by Roger and Gene to resolve disputes— notably, that's the reason their show was called Siskel & Ebert rather than the other way around.
- Happily Married: Roger and Chaz very obviously dote on each other.Chaz: He was 50 years old when we got married. He used to tell me, "I waited just about all my life to find you. And I'm glad I did. And I'm never gonna let you go." I mean... (swooning gesture)
- Hilarious Outtakes: Some rare behind-the-scenes clips from Siskel & Ebert illustrate their contentious but affectionate relationship.
- Like an Old Married Couple: With Gene Siskel.
- Scenery Porn: There are some absolutely gorgeous atmospheric shots of Chicago.
- Secretly Dying: Gene Siskel downplayed his illness until it was too late to say a proper goodbye.
- The Speechless: The film was shot after Roger had lost his ability to speak due to thyroid cancer. His lines are provided by a computerized speech generator, and excerpts from the autobiography are read by an actor.
- Synthetic Voice Actor: Roger is shown using a computer voice generator to communicate after he lost his lower jaw.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Gene Siskel again, as shown on and off screen of their eponymous show.
