film Art reflecting Ebert
‘Life Itself’ showcases the wit and wisdom of Roger Ebert by Michael J. Casey
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Courtesy of Life Itself
he Chicago Sun-Times obituary by Neil Steinberg couldn’t have said it better: “Roger Ebert loved movies.” Considering that he reviewed thousands upon thousands of them, it was a good thing. From 1967 to his death in 2013, Ebert was the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. He wrote weekly reviews — under deadline — for movies in current release. His first was Galia; his last was To The Wonder. In addition to his column, Ebert published no fewer than 20 books, recorded hours and hours of television with his sparring partner Gene Siskel and gave countless lectures. Roger Ebert wasn’t one to rest on his laurels. All of this and much, much more are cov“Best friends” Siskel and Ebert in the film Life Itself. ered in Steve James’s excellent documentary, Life Itself, which is playing at the Boedecker Theater until August 16th. most likely a dream for an intellectual bohemian. Life Itself and Ebert’s 2011 memoir, from where There is nothing quite like the Conference on the movie takes its name and a great deal of content, World Affairs. Speakers far and wide are invited to trace the life of Ebert from birth to death. Most knew travel on their own dime to come and speak at free Ebert from his popular TV show, Siskel & Ebert, but events for no pay on topics they were assigned only in residents of Boulder will no doubt remember Ebert’s the days before the panel begins. They have only their annual April visits to participate in the Conference on intellect and wits to rely on, and for someone like World Affairs. Ebert, he relished the challenge. “I lived more than nine months of my life in “At Boulder I discussed masturbation with the Boulder, Colorado,” Ebert wrote in his memoir, “one Greek ambassador to the United Nations,” he wrote week at a time.” Ebert first attended the conference in in Life Itself. “I analyzed dirty jokes with Molly Ivins, the late ’60s as a wide-eyed critic and met what was the cabaret artist David Finkle, and the London LIFE ITSELF
BLESSINGS: THE TSOKNYI NANGCHEN NUNS OF TIBET
Acclaimed director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and executive producers Martin Scorsese (The Departed) and Steven Zaillian (Moneyball) present 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, this movie 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. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
This documentary tells the story of 3,000 nuns living in the remote nomadic region of Nangchen in Eastern Tibet who practice an ancient yogic tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Despite near extinction during the Cultural Revolution, these remarkable spiritual practitioners have emerged to rebuild their monasteries by hand — stone by stone. Now, their tradition of wisdom and compassion is once again vital and growing. Filmmaker Q&A with Victress Hitchcock after screening on Aug. 16. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
THE LUNCHBOX A mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
THE ROLLING STONES: SWEET SUMMER SUN — CONCERT IN HYDE PARK In the summer of 2013, the Stones delivered a five-star performance in their hometown that had both fans and critics singing their praises. The set packed in hit after hit and saw the band joined by former guitarist Mick Taylor for a special guest appearance on two songs. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
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GIGI Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship, but it may not stay platonic for long. Winner of nine Oscars, it stars Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier and Louis Jordan. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
SCIENCE ON SCREEN: DR. DAVID BRAIN, TERRAFORMING MARS AND “TOTAL RECALL” Co-investigator on the MAVEN team (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission), Dr. David Brain will discuss the possibilities of terraforming Mars, followed by a screening of the delightfully cheesy Schwarzenegger action sci-fi romp Total Recall. Supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
PANTANI: THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A CYCLIST In 1998 Marco Pantani, the most flamboyant and popular cyclist of his era, won both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, a titanic feat of physical and mental endurance that no rider has repeated since. He was a hero to millions, the sav-
Parliamentary correspondent Simon Horrart.” And, “There I asked Ted Turner how he got so much else right, and colorization wrong.” And a personal favorite, “From the basement of Macky Auditorium, I participated in Colorado’s first live webcast, although I’m fairly certain no one was watching.” In James’s documentary, Ebert admits that he first attended the conference “to get laid,” but he was drawn back year after year because it offered, “world-famous scientists ... filmmakers, senators, astronauts, poets, nuns, surgeons, addicts, yogis, Indian chiefs” and on and on. In 1975, Ebert added his own program to the conference, Ebert Interruptus. Ebert Interruptus was a democratic approach to film study, a program where Ebert and two thousand students and cinephiles sat in Macky Auditorium slowly watching movies one shot at a time, dissecting it in hopes of discovering the movie’s secrets. The process takes eight, sometimes 10 hours, over the course of a week to watch one movie. In the documentary, Ebert surmised that they found all the things that were there, and a few things that weren’t — but they found them. His favorite movie to discuss was La Dolce Vita, the 1960 Italian film from Federico Fellini, going see SCREEN Page 49 ior of cycling following the doping scandals which threatened to destroy the sport. Less than six years later, aged just 34, he died alone in a cheap hotel room from acute cocaine poisoning. He had been an addict for five years. This is the story of the tragic battles fought by the most important Italian cyclist of his generation; man versus mountain, athlete versus addiction, Marco Pantani versus himself. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
THE GRAND SEDUCTION The small harbor of Tickle Cove is in dire need of a doctor so that the town can land a contract to secure a factory which will save the town from financial ruin. Village resident Murray French (Brendan Gleeson) leads the search, and when he finds Dr. Paul Lewis (Taylor Kitsch) he employs — along with the whole town — tactics to seduce the doctor to stay permanently. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
OPERA: MEFISTOFELE- SAN FRANCISCO OPERA Boito’s resplendent retelling of Goethe’s Faust is a monumental work of “choral grandeur and melodic richness” (The New York Times). The cast includes Ramón Vargas as the philosopher who sells his soul to the Devil; the “luminous, compelling” Patricia Racette (Washington Post) as the woman he desires; and, in the vividly menacing title role, the “seductively malevolent” bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
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