New Roger Ebert documentary gets rave reviews

The world lost one of the greatest film critics of all time when Roger Ebert passed away in April of last year. I don't know about you guys, but I still find myself regularly wondering, "What would Ebert think about this movie?" I miss his reviews tremendously. Now, a new documentary about Ebert, Life Itself, has debuted to raves at the Sundance Film Festival, and I find myself eagerly anticipating seeing it. Ebert was a complicated man and, I believe, a fascinating subject for any documentary.

Life Itself is based on Roger Ebert's best-selling 2011 memoir. It is directed by Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) and it apparently moved the Sundance audience to tears more than once when it was shown on Sunday night. Of course it would: The audience was no doubt filled with critics who drew inspiration from Ebert's career. Steve James shot the film during the final five months of Ebert's life, and according to several reports, Ebert himself acknowledges in footage that he likely would not live to see the final product.

Coverage of the Life Itself Sundance premiere is plentiful, and so far, I've not read one single negative review. I think my biggest concern about this documentary was that it might become a mere tribute movie to Ebert (and I can't argue he's worthy of one). That is apparently not the case. One critic says that no, Life Itself tackles all aspects of Roger Ebert's life and career, good and bad, including his battle with alcoholism and his (sometimes hilarious) battles with his At the Movies co-host Gene Siskel.

Apparently, Life Itself also reveals much more about Roger Ebert's life than many in the industry knew, including the fact that Martin Scorsese "credited Ebert (and Siskel) with bringing him back from the dead through the tribute they organized at the Toronto Film Festival in the early 1980s." I knew Scorsese and Ebert were close (he's an executive producer of Life Itself), but I don't think I ever understood just how close.

Hopefully, we'll all have the opportunity to see Life Itself soon. CNN has acquired the U.S. broadcast rights, but at the moment, I can't find anything with a definitive air date. Stay tuned.

Photo courtesy of EW.com