Roger Ebert’s Treasure of a Journey in ‘Life Itself’

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CHICAGO – We will never see the likes of his kind again – the influential arbiter of cinematic taste, whose magic thumb could make or break the dreams of both filmmaker and film fan. The journey of Roger Ebert, the most influential film critic of our times, is told in the new documentary, “Life Itself.”

Based on his excellent 2011 memoir of the same name, “Life Itself” is created with deep perspective and truth by director Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”). James develops the story through the the last few years of Ebert’s life, in which the struggle to maintain his film critique truth clashed with the realities of his battle against cancer. With the rare opportunity to go inside that situation, the film takes us through Roger’s life story in contrast to his last days, which shines a spotlight on how triumphant that amazing life was. Roger was at the right place at the right time, but also took those opportunities and soared to the highest level that he could – in film criticism, his general writings, his travels and ultimately his marriage and family. His wife Chaz called it “living out loud.”

Roger Joseph Ebert was born in 1942 in Urbana, Illinois, the only child of Walter and Annabel Ebert. His interest in journalism began in high school – where he worked as a sports stringer for the News Gazette of Champaign-Urbana – and blossomed as an college editor for the Daily Illini newspaper at the University of Illinois. He was hired after graduation in 1966 by the Chicago Sun-Times, and took over as film critic in 1967, maintaining that position until his passing in 2013.

Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel
Partners: Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel Do What They Did Best in ‘Life Itself’
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures

“Life Itself” tells the story of this remarkable man, who always sought to find the layers of intimacy within the flickering images on screen – in print, on television (in partnership with Gene Siskel) and finally the internet. His approach to those intimacies was mirrored in his life, as he fought against the twin demons of alcoholism and rapid success. He became sober in the late 1970s, found a soulmate in Chaz Hammelsmith ten years later, and continued on a path of critical influence, as he became an early online presence. In 2002, the cancer he would struggle against for the next ten years was diagnosed, and although he lost the ability to speak, he never lost his ‘voice’ in the cultural stratosphere, blogging until the day before his death in April of last year.

Telling the story was a massive undertaking, in both the largesse of Ebert’s life and the comprehensive nature of the printed memoir. Director Steve James chose to focus on the Ebert of the last few years, rendered mute by cancer surgery, struggling daily against a weakening body. Even as he kept a busy schedule and a high level public persona – despite how surgery altered his looks – the film reveals the difficulties of his circumstance. This makes his story all the more interesting, as his past “life out loud” indicates both the short time we all have and the glory of maximizing that time. The documentary makes that clear.

The most entertaining part of the Ebert journey was his partnership with Gene Siskel during the era of that TV phenomenon. They were a mismatched duo when it came to personality and film sensibility, but their ability to spar based on their impressive egos was the energy that made the show work. Although there were many attempts to duplicate the formula, it was Siskel and Ebert – and that chemistry alone – that took TV film criticism into a new realm. After Gene Siskel passed away in 1999, it’s as if that format ended as well, as television had changed and the internet made film criticism more accessible.

Another significant partnership that Ebert enjoyed was with a Chicago lawyer named Chaz. He married late in life, but he did it right, and their relationship plays a significant role in the film. Chaz gave him a sense of stability that his life, despite its success, seemed to be lacking. His lone wolf status changed to one of husband and grandfather, and it became his most significant role. It was Chaz and his family that pulled him through the most desperate hours of his illness, and maintained his reason to live up to the very end.

Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert
Soulmates: Roger Ebert and Chaz Ebert in ‘Life Itself’
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures

This is a biased review, I knew Roger and I know Chaz, not intimately, but enough to have a deep love and a profound respect for both of them, and what Roger gave me. The first day I was in the critic’s screening room, he was sitting in his seat (end row, end left seat facing the screen) and I couldn’t believe I was about to watch a film with the Great Roger Ebert. I went up to him after the screening, literally knelt beside him, and said, “the only reason I’m here is because you’re here.” He squeezed my hand, in effect knighting me. I dedicate the words of this review to him.

Roger Ebert had the Pulitzer Prize, he wrote a screenplay that became a cult classic, he was a TV star and he never lacked a voice in the cinema culture. But the greatest gift that Roger Ebert had was his sheer passion and love for the movies, and the fellow travelers he loved along the way. That passion fueled other passions, inspired dreams and was the essence to his “Life Itself.”

“Life Itself” has a limited release, including Chicago, on July 4th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, Errol Morris and Gene Siskel. Directed by Steve James. Rated “R.” For another Patrick McDonald essay on Roger Ebert, click here.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2014 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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