As a Brazilian, I got to know about Roger's work late in 2012, through indications from Pablo Villaça, a Brazilian film critic. As I got going to know him better, and when reading his reviews after each film became routine, I had the well-known feeling of "how did I live until now without this?". So there I was, someone who recently discovered Roger Ebert merely two years ago, coming to watch the documentary about his life, with a minimum connection with the writer.
As his story is told, and we get to know a man enjoying premature success with a hedonist lifestyle, I kept thinking: "where is this great writer that everyone loves?". But then the movie covers all of his trajectory in such a delicate way that we feel how important verbal communication is for him. And later on we understand how gigantic of a soul he is to overcome the lack of being able to talk, something he loved so much.
The many dimensions of Roger's personality is also shown beautifully in the film. Many times we can sketch a thought agreeing to Gene Siskel saying "he is an asshole". And, in a nutshell, the movie tells the story of an arrogant man who, with many paths in his life, became humble as one can ever be.
Take for example the first sequence of rivalry between Siskel and Roger behind the cameras. I found it, at the same time, shocking and funny, although the soundtrack suggests the first one. And later on I felt relieved to see that they became good friends for life. I can recall Roger saying, in one of his reviews, that movies are about changes. Well, this movie is about change. And the great protagonist magnifies that.
Behind most of those changes is Chaz Ebert. We are not only told how great she is, but we actually see her taking care of fragile Robert, and not being afraid to confess: "I do get tired sometimes". Which leaves no doubt about how important and strong of a woman she is.
Talking about humility, there is no better way to picture that than showing two of the most successful directors, Scorsese and Herzog, throwing out compliments to the critic, and telling stories before their fame. And seeing how Roger treated yet anonymous, but talented, people like Ramin Bahrani, Errol Morris and Ava DuVernay is his absolute passport to our heart.
By the end of the movie, while is heartbreaking seeing Roger say "It is likely I will have passed when the film is ready", it is extremely comforting to see how he deals with death. And after two hours of screening, I caught myself weeping my eyes out when one of the messages Roger sent Steve James appeared on screen: "I'm fading".
Two hours. It was all it took, after only two years of contact with the writer, for me to love this man. And for me to love and thank Chaz, and even to thank Leonard Cohen for once saving him. Life Itself is a lifetime experience.
As his story is told, and we get to know a man enjoying premature success with a hedonist lifestyle, I kept thinking: "where is this great writer that everyone loves?". But then the movie covers all of his trajectory in such a delicate way that we feel how important verbal communication is for him. And later on we understand how gigantic of a soul he is to overcome the lack of being able to talk, something he loved so much.
The many dimensions of Roger's personality is also shown beautifully in the film. Many times we can sketch a thought agreeing to Gene Siskel saying "he is an asshole". And, in a nutshell, the movie tells the story of an arrogant man who, with many paths in his life, became humble as one can ever be.
Take for example the first sequence of rivalry between Siskel and Roger behind the cameras. I found it, at the same time, shocking and funny, although the soundtrack suggests the first one. And later on I felt relieved to see that they became good friends for life. I can recall Roger saying, in one of his reviews, that movies are about changes. Well, this movie is about change. And the great protagonist magnifies that.
Behind most of those changes is Chaz Ebert. We are not only told how great she is, but we actually see her taking care of fragile Robert, and not being afraid to confess: "I do get tired sometimes". Which leaves no doubt about how important and strong of a woman she is.
Talking about humility, there is no better way to picture that than showing two of the most successful directors, Scorsese and Herzog, throwing out compliments to the critic, and telling stories before their fame. And seeing how Roger treated yet anonymous, but talented, people like Ramin Bahrani, Errol Morris and Ava DuVernay is his absolute passport to our heart.
By the end of the movie, while is heartbreaking seeing Roger say "It is likely I will have passed when the film is ready", it is extremely comforting to see how he deals with death. And after two hours of screening, I caught myself weeping my eyes out when one of the messages Roger sent Steve James appeared on screen: "I'm fading".
Two hours. It was all it took, after only two years of contact with the writer, for me to love this man. And for me to love and thank Chaz, and even to thank Leonard Cohen for once saving him. Life Itself is a lifetime experience.