I can't remember when I first read one of Roger Ebert's reviews, but it must be over a decade ago. It seems like he's been part of my life forever, but realistically, it would be 15 years ago at most as I didn't get online until 1999, and the Chicago Sun Times was in short supply in the small village in Wales I grew up in.
Since discovering him, though, I've made up for lost time. I've read hundreds of his reviews, reread my favourites on countless occasions, been entertained immeasurably by some of his most scathing, and discovered some of my favourite films through his reviews - Sin Nombre, Lost and Delirious, and Wet Hot American Summer to name but three. (Hey, looking at the review of Wet Hot American Summer, I loved reading him; I didn't say I always agreed with him!)
So this film about the Pulitzer Prize winning critic, based on his memoir, was my most anticipated of the year, but if you want unbiased opinion, you should perhaps look elsewhere. Of course, if you're looking for someone who hasn't been influenced in one way or another by Ebert, you may be looking for some time.
In my hopelessly biased view, then, this is an utterly amazing movie which manages to do the near impossible and of justice to a subject beloved of so many. It takes us quickly through his early days, with interesting anecdotes about his time as editor of a college newspaper, but the main part of the film goes back and forth between looking at Ebert's time as a film critic - often using narration taken from his memoir - and seeing him in declining health.
Watching him as he was towards the end of his life is tough viewing at times, and an early shot which lets us see through Ebert's mouth, since his jaw has been destroyed by the cancer, leaves us in no doubt as to the extent of his health issues. Despite these problems, though, and his inability to speak, he's a remarkably upbeat presence for much of the film, enjoying reminiscing with maker Steve James about his past.
At heart, this is a love story. It's partly one of Ebert's devotion to films, showing how he helped launch the careers of several filmmakers - including Errol Morris and Ramin Bahrani who are both interviewed here - by shining a spotlight on their work, but also how he would hold movies to account when he felt they should have been better - even those of directors, like Martin Scorsese, who he considered his friends. Even more, though, it's a tender portrayal of his long relationship with wife Chaz Ebert, so supportive over such a long period of time, right up until the very end. The love they have for each other shines through every time they're on screen.
The other main relationship the film focuses on is that of Ebert and Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel, who worked together for years on TV. The famously fractious friendship/rivalry is explored in-depth here, with the childish behaviour of both men at times exposed, but it's clear that beneath everything was an underlying respect for each other.
An utterly amazing film, definitely my favourite of the year, and probably the most I've ever cried in the cinema - a seriously emotional ride.
I was lucky enough to see a special screening of this followed by a Q and A with director Steve James, whose recollections of shooting the movie were very interesting.
Also seen this week:
Leviathan - I admired this hard-hitting Russian drama about corruption, a modern-day reworking of the Book of Job, more than I actually liked it. It's well acted - particularly by lead Aleksei Serebryakov as Nikolay - but I didn't really engage with any of the characters that much.
Sacro GRA - This Italian documentary about the ring road which circles Rome was hit and miss but parts were fascinating. I thought it arguably tried to focus on too many people - I'd have loved a smaller group but more time spent with some of the more interesting ones, like the guy trying to save palm trees from the weevils - but I'm glad I caught it.
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