Acclaimed director steve james hoop dreams and executive producers martin scorsese the departed and steven zaillian moneyball present life itself, a documentary film that recounts the inspiring and entertaining life of worldrenowned film critic and social commentator roger ebert a story that is by turns personal, funny, painful, and transcendent. Steve jamess lifeaffirming documentary about the influential american movie critic gets. Roger ebert documentary life itself is the kind of. A life spent at the movies gets the cinematic epitaph it richly deserves in life itself, documentarian steve james meticulous and intensely emotional portrait of the late roger ebert. When it comes to film critics and memoirs, im with pauline kael, who is quoted at the top of this blog. Officially an adaptation of ebert s bestselling memoir of the same title, the motion picture takes ebert s last five months, as he battled cancer and faced a grim. One tragedy bleeds into another so often that the events begin to blur.
Blow 2001 based on the book by roger ebert this filmography is not intended to be a comprehensive list of this artists work. Roger ebert is such a well thought out and impassioned writer, and this book allows his writing to come through in a more personal manner. Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, life itself, explores the impact and legacy of roger eberts life, from his pulitzer prizewinning film criticism at the chicago suntimes to becoming one of the most influential cultural voices in america. Life itself george harrison song, a song by george harrison from somewhere in england life itself, a song by glass animals from how to be a human being life itself, a song by bruce springsteen from working on a dream. Published on mar 17, 2015 kartemquin filmss life itself, based on roger eberts celebrated memoir of the same title, recounts the surprising, entertaining, and. As ebert notes in his new autobiography, life itself, his silence has made his inner voice more vivid, andas he himself says in his introductionthe book is. Roger eberts life celebrated by movie greats in hearttugging. Jul 03, 2014 life itself is based on eberts memoir of the same name, but the film goes far beyond the book s last page.
Chazs journal by chaz ebert an article about three indiecollect restorationsf. Filmmaker steve james chronicles the life of film critic roger ebert, especially his career highlights, his battle with alcohol, and his sometimes ruthless rivalry with fellow critic gene siskel. Roger ebert books list of books by author roger ebert. Set in new york city and carmona, spain, life itself celebrates the human condition and all of its complications with humor, poignancy and love. Filled with the same deep insight, dry wit, and sharp observations that his readers have long cherished, this is more than a memoir it is a singular, warmhearted, inspiring look at life itself. Life itself official movie site starring roger ebert. Life itself by roger ebert october 11, 2011 patrick t reardon 0 roger ebert s life itself is a newspapermans memoir, which is. Filled with the same deep insight, dry wit, and sharp observations that his readers have long cherished, this is more than a memoirit is a singular, warmhearted, inspiring look at life itself. Just so, ebert s direction of life itself becomes its substance and shape, along with james. Steve james documentary opens on ebert s reason for loving cinema. Life itself, a documentary, film adaptation of film critic roger ebert s memoir. It premiered at the 2014 sundance film festival and was an official selection at the 67th cannes film festival. Life itself is made up of short chapters that have the vitality of blog.
Cinema lovers will be inspired by this portrait of the chicago newspaperman who became a tv. Roger ebert is the bestknown film critic of our time. A memoir, a 2011 memoir by film critic roger ebert. Chazs journal by chaz ebert chaz ebert s day4empathy message of 2020 on the seventh year after roger ebert s death and in light of the coronavirus pandemic. He was a film critic for the chicago suntimes from 1967 until his death in 20. Life itself celebrates roger ebert and his capacity for joy the. I was insufferably full of myself, he writes about his time at the university of illinois in his new memoir, life itself. Life itself official movie site starring roger ebert available on. September 21, 2011 roger ebert tackles lowbrow and highbrow topics alike in his memoir. An unflinching documentary of roger eberts life and death in late 2012, filmmaker steve james and roger ebert began talking about filming a documentary based on eberts memoir. But in a real sense, movies are a reflection of life itself and a good movie and sometimes even a bad movie can give us the opportunity to reflect on life and thats never a bad thing.
Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, life itself, explores the legacy of roger eberts life, from his pulitzer prizewinning film. Life itself, an englishlanguage romance drama film. Chazs journal by chaz ebert chaz eberts day4empathy message of 2020 on the seventh year after roger eberts death and in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Dec 18, 2017 filmmaker steve james chronicles the life of film critic roger ebert, especially his career highlights, his battle with alcohol, and his sometimes ruthless rivalry with fellow critic gene siskel. Jan 20, 2014 a life spent at the movies gets the cinematic epitaph it richly deserves in life itself, documentarian steve james meticulous and intensely emotional portrait of the late roger ebert.
That same year, eberts first book, a history of the university of illinois titled illini century. Every time ive seen life itself, ebert pal rick kogans hilarious exclamation fuck pauline kael. Yes, there are times when the book feels a bit unfocused, and that might not have been the case if it had been written twenty years ago while ebert was in his prime, but even though hed lost a few steps by the time he sat down to write his life story, roger ebert was still a better writer than most people half his age in perfect health, and. Life itself by roger ebert overdrive rakuten overdrive. The book was fresh, whimsical and poignant, with short, piquant chapters of various episodes in eberts life. He had a stroke on the tuesday before life itself opene. Roger ebert understood that, perhaps better than any critic before or since.
Ebert began his professional critic career in 1967, writing for the chicago suntimes. Concert for the state thats bruce springsteen and jon bon. An inspiring cnn film on the life of roger ebert and how he became one of americas most influential cultural voices. In 1975, ebert became the first film critic to win the pulitzer prize for criticism. Ebert spent a carefree childhood, often with his nose in a book. It didnt matter who it was about, it ends as a love story about dealing with mortality. This documentary actually started shooting months before ebert knew he was. Life itself is the new documentary about the pulitzer. So we thought wed reprint the excerpt that roger ebert ran just before its release. Life itself is the 2011 memoir by film critic roger ebert, pulitzer prize winning journalist for the chicago suntimes who through partnership with film critic gene siskel, cohosted a nationally syndicated tv talk show that made him a household name as a critic, with his insights, interviews and patented thumbs up thumbs down summary of movies. Steve, says ebert, smiling in his hospital bed, shoot yourself in the mirror.
Departed and steven zaillian moneyball present life itself, a documentary film that recounts the. Life itself does offer plenty of autobiographical history, starting with a somewhat tedious descent through eberts family tree. To call roger ebert one of the great populist film critics is to damn him with faint praise. Life itself, a song by glass animals from how to be a human being life itself, a song by bruce springsteen from working on a dream. Roger ebert life itself documentary sneak peak youtube. Life itself is a 2014 american biographical documentary film about chicago film critic roger ebert, directed by steve james and produced by zak piper, james and garrett basch. Marys elementary school and serving as an altar boy in urbana his paternal grandparents were german immigrants and his maternal ancestry was irish and dutch.
Steve james engrossing documentary about roger ebert celebrates the late film critics life and work but also presents an unflinching view of his medical difficulties. Eberts new memoir, life itself, is an episodic, impressionistic and skillfully written exploration of his life, from his 1950s childhood in urbana, ill. Roger ebert was the definitive mainstream film critic in american cinema. A memoir is as moving as it is amusing, fresh evidence that roger ebert is a writer who happens to love movies, not a movie lover who happens to write. Sep 18, 2011 life itself a memoir by roger ebert grand central. One hundred years of campus life, was published by the universitys press. Life itself, a wellintentioned but enormously disappointing biodoc from director steve james hoop dreams and producers martin scorsese and steven zallian, is not that film. Its origin and nature, a 1981 book by francis crick. Jul 08, 2014 theres life and then the movies are fantasy. Though based on ebert s memoir, the film takes a turn and ends up following the final days of his. His career is pretty much summed up in this trailers first words. Jul 03, 2014 thankfully, ebert actually narrates parts of life itself, the title of which is taken from his memoir, the book ontape version of which we hear on screen. Life itself may tell the story of a remarkable life, but its at its most enlightening when dealing with death. If you love the film, which we know you will, youll love the book.
Discount prices on books by roger ebert, including titles like ebert s bigger little movie glossary. Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, life itself, explores the legacy of roger eberts life, from his pulitzer prizewinning film criticism at the chicago suntimes to becoming one of. Life itself by steve james roger ebert 876964008075 dvd. The visuals were before me, the audio surrounded me, the plot unfolded inevitably bu. The film is based on ebert s 2011 memoir of the same name. Roger eberts recent death prompted me to read his 2011 book, life itself. You can imagine that roger ebert wouldve been proud to have been at the centre of such a heartbreaking and inspirational story. Roger ebert simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mar 17, 2015 kartemquin filmss life itself, based on roger eberts celebrated memoir of the same title, recounts the surprising, entertaining, and moving life of the worldrenowned film critic and. Duly noted are his early days at the chicago suntimes, when oldschool reporters still found most of their stories in barrooms, and endless afternoons spent with movie stars and directorsrobert mitchum, martin scorsese, woody allen. Roger ebert life itself what did you love best about life itself. Roger ebert has written more than a dozen books about movies.
Legendary film critic roger ebert is appearing on the big screen himself in the new documentary life itself. Life itself, a song by bruce springsteen from working on a dream. Life itself is a 2014 american biographical documentary film about chicago film critic roger ebert, directed by steve james and produced by zak piper, steve. Roger joseph ebert was born in urbana, illinois, the only child of annabel nee stumm, 19111987, a bookkeeper, and walter harry ebert 19011960, an electrician.
In 2006, complications from thyroid cancer treatment resulted in the loss of his ability to eat. Its dramatic, as you would expect, with a sweetness and nostalgia that might be a surprise. Life itself does offer plenty of autobiographical history, starting with a somewhat tedious descent through ebert s family tree. What shines throughout the book is eberts humility, his downtoearth and powerful sense of decency.
Life itself 2014 film, a documentary, film adaptation of film critic roger eberts memoir. I found his life story to be an unlikely one, and i finished the book feeling like he was an old friend. Songs life itself george harrison song, a song by george harrison from somewhere in england life itself, a song by glass animals from how to be a human being life itself, a song by bruce springsteen from working on a dream. Roger ebert s recent death prompted me to read his 2011 book, life itself. Film critic roger ebert, life itself a memoir aarp. Life itself by steve james roger ebert 876964008075. A shot of kaels books on roger s shelf doesnt communicate the depth of their kinship as smart populist film critics. But, as ebert notes in his new autobiography, life itself, his silence has made his inner voice more vivid, andas he himself says in his introductionthe book is proof of it. The documentary life itself is a wartsandall portrait of roger ebert, the most famous and affectionately regarded of american movie critics. Instead it reflects the films this person has been involved with that. Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, life itself, explores the impact and legacy of roger ebert s life, from his pulitzer prizewinning film criticism at the chicago suntimes to becoming one of the most influential cultural voices in america. Steve james documentary on roger ebert naturally chronicles its subjects.
Roger ebert celebrity profile check out the latest roger ebert photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Not to be confused with the title of roger ebert s memoir, dan fogelmans life itself packs in enough narrative twists and turns to leave viewers with a sense of emotional whiplash. Life itself is a fascinating documentary about pulitzer prize winning film critic roger ebert. Minneapolis star tribune a gentle look back, life itself. What shines throughout the book is ebert s humility, his downtoearth and powerful sense of decency. I will look the way i look, and express myself in print, and i will be content. Jane fonda and three indiecollect restorations to appear this weekend at the 2020 hfpa restoration summit. Roger ebert is the pulitzer prizewinning film critic of the chicago suntimes. The problem may lie in jamess decision to make the documentary a loose adaptation of eberts memoir, instead of simply doing an original biodoc on ebert. Roger ebert has 75 books on goodreads with 39607 ratings.
468 1592 702 1362 764 1259 104 375 1520 694 1120 1520 1526 704 291 64 1431 457 989 1391 2 18 356 546 740 457 850 276 533 1309 499 1216 207 825 563 1358 745 952 923 1437 42 637 708