You know the name. You know the thumb. He was the most recognized, most popular film critic who ever lived. As they say in this film, he was writing about movies for half of the history of movies. Roger Ebert passed away last year, leaving behind an incredible legacy: a Pulitzer prize, a litany of best-selling books, a loving wife and a long-running TV show. His life story is one well-worth watching. "Life Itself" is a wonderfully-made documentary by Steve James, (a filmmaker triumphed by Ebert) that exhibits true affection for its subject...but it goes deeper than that. It's not just affection, but compassion that elevates the film to emotional heights. The camera lingers unflinchingly on Ebert's horrifying medical procedure and his initially troubling drooping jaw. He is still holding on to life, with all his might. By the end of "Life Itself" one feels like they know this deeply familiar person in a vastly different and illuminating way.
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