LIFE ITSELF Brian Bennett reviews LIFE ITSELF - (99) EXCELLENT – Numbers up system - 99 Excellent, 96 Very Good, 69 Good, 66 Mediocre Crew Directed by Steve James, based on the memoir “LIFE ITSELF” by Roger Ebert. Camera (color, HD), Dana Kupper; editors, David E. Simpson, Steve James; music, Joshua Abrams; music supervisor, Linda Cohen; sound, Zak Piper; re-recording mixer, Drew Weir. I was excited to attend the screening of the documentary film LIFE ITSELF which was selected to open the Hamptons International Film Festival Summer Doc Series on June 21 in the United States. The Summer Doc Series was started and hosted in East Hampton by the actor Alec Baldwin, and festival director, David Nugent. Their reputation for selecting films to be screened over the last five or six years is so good that several of the films they chose have gone on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary. As a filmmaker and a film festival organizer, I have always had a passion for film. and having the chance to see a documentary about the passionate and talented film critic, Roger Ebert, was an experience not to be missed. LIFE ITSELF was directed by acclaimed director, Steve James of HOOP DREAMS fame, and executive produced by Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese (RAGING BULL, THE DEPARTED, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET ) and acclaimed screenwriter/director, Steven Zaillian, (SCHINDLERS LIST, MONEYBALL). The website for the Summer Doc Series described LIFE ITSELF as a documentary film that recounts the inspiring and entertaining life of world-renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert – a story that is by turns personal, funny, painful, and transcendent. Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, LIFE ITSELF, explores the legacy of Roger Ebert’s life, from his Pulitzer Prize-winning film criticism at the Chicago Sun-Times to becoming one of the most influential cultural voices in America. After reading the press release, my expectations were very high. The production team was the very best, including Steve James and Martin Scorsese. HOOP DREAMS was a powerful film, sprouting my hunger for documentaries. Martin Scorsese’s documentary - GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD was amazing. It was three hours long and I didn’t think a documentary that long could possibly hold my interest. However, after 208 minutes , I felt like I had just sat down and started watching. So these previous experiences left me with pretty high expectations. Also, I should disclose that I knew Roger Ebert and his wife Chaz. They attended my film festival in Bangkok, and I had met with them on several other occasions over the years, even attending Ebertfest, the Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois in 2012. When someone creates a script about someone very dear to you, so many expectations are laid down. After all, we think: I know this person best; no it didn’t happen like that; no, they don’t understand him. We become a detective, searching for faults and inaccuracies. I learned an important lesson from LIFE ITSELF. Do not pre-judge, even when you think you know. When LIFE ITSELF starts, you are immediately taken into Roger’s world. And what an inspiring and entertaining world it was. You are treated to the background of Rogers days as a journalist and newspaperman. You see his hilarious broadcasting days with his television partner, Gene Siskel. And then later you are allowed to witness his romance with his soul mate and wife, Chaz. The film is in part, personal and funny and later as Rogers illness progresses it becomes unflinchingly painful. But watching Chazs and Rogers love story unfold and seeing Rogers bravery to the very end, the film is ultimately transcendent. LIFE ITSELF, is Roger Ebert’s memoir, however, it is for everyone. A scene that brought tears to my eyes, happened when Roger’s granddaughter was interviewed. She started to cry as she remembered how her grandfather had spent time with her and her brothers and taught them about books and movies. I understood, as I once listened to Roger talk about the film VERTIGO at the Hawaii International Film Festival. Roger’s presentation, sense of humor and insight were astounding. I learned so much from those sessions and could relate to his granddaughters words. I have been inspired by watching LIFE ITSELF. If I was superintendent of schools, I would make the film mandatory viewing for all secondary students. Without a doubt, even without seeing other films that will be produced this year, I predict that Alec Baldwins magic in predicting the Academy Award documentary winner will continue and that LIFE ITSELF will win Best Documentary on February 22, 2015, when the Oscars are broadcast. As Siskel & Ebert would say - Two Thumbs Up! youtube/watch?v=j9ud1HUHgug
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:10:03 +0000
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