Life Itself (2014 Documentary)

Life Itself (2014 Documentary)

Author: Awesome Movie Year July 23, 2025 Duration: 1:01:14

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features our documentary pick, Steve James’ Life Itself. Directed by Steve James and featuring Roger Ebert, Life Itself is based on Ebert’s 2011 memoir.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Ann Hornaday in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/life-itself-movie-review-an-absorbing-chronicle-of-roger-eberts-life/2014/07/03/24411f52-0084-11e4-8572-4b1b969b6322_story.html), Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-life-itself-20140704-column.html), and Matt Zoller Seitz at RogerEbert.com (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/life-itself-2014).

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear 

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/goforjason/

You can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/, on Bluesky at signalbleed.bsky.social and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/signalbleed/

If you’re a Letterboxd user and you watch any of the movies we talk about on the show, tag your review “Awesome Movie Year” to share your thoughts.

You can find our producer David Rosen and his Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod, on Bluesky at piecingpod.bsky.social and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/bydavidrosen/ 

Join the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod for more movie discussion and our Awesome Movie Year audience choice polls.

All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.com

Subscribe on Patreon to support the show and get access to exclusive content from Awesome Movie Year and Piecing It Together, plus music by David Rosen: https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosen


Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 2014 episode, featuring Josh’s personal pick, J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year.


Ever wonder what makes a particular year in cinema truly stand out? Awesome Movie Year digs into that very question, one remarkable film at a time. Co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell alongside filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris, this podcast picks a single, noteworthy year each season and meticulously explores what made it so special. Rather than broad overviews, every episode zooms in on a different movie from that chosen year, offering a deep dive into its impact, its cultural moment, and its lasting legacy. The conversations blend critical analysis with a genuine love for the medium, thanks to the hosts' complementary backgrounds. Produced by David Rosen of Piecing It Together for the All Points West Podcast Network, the show has a polished yet conversational feel. You’ll hear about blockbusters and hidden gems alike, all through the lens of why they mattered then and why they still resonate. It’s for anyone who loves to look beyond the screen and understand the context that creates a classic. Tune in to Awesome Movie Year for a thoughtful and engaging tour through some of cinema’s most fascinating periods.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 375

Awesome Movie Year
Podcast Episodes
Daughters Of Darkness (1971 Audience Choice) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:55
The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features our audience choice pick, Harry Kümel’s Daughters of Darkness. Directed and co-written by Harry Kümel and starring Delphine Seyrig, Danielle Ouimet, Joh…
Billy Jack (1971 Future Cult Classic) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:42
The fifteenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features our future cult classic pick, Tom Laughlin’s Billy Jack. Directed and co-written by Tom Laughlin and starring Laughlin, Delores Taylor, David…
The Corpse Grinders (1971 Dave's Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:49
The fourteenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features our producer David Rosen’s personal pick, Ted V. Mikels’ The Corpse Grinders. Directed by Ted V. Mikels from a screenplay by Arch Hall and J…
The French Connection (1971 Best Picture Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:39
The thirteenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, William Friedkin’s The French Connection. Directed by William Friedkin, based on the book by Robin M…
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1971 Berlin Film Festival Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:12
The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear winner, Vittorio De Sica’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. Directed by Vittorio De Sica, based on the no…
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985 Christmas Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:37
This special Christmas preview of our upcoming 1985 season features holiday favorite Santa Claus: The Movie. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc from a screenplay by David Newman and starring David Huddleston, Dudley Moore, John…
Harold and Maude (1971 Jason's Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:18
The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features Jason’s personal pick, Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude. Directed by Hal Ashby from a screenplay by Colin Higgins and starring Bud Cort, Ruth Gord…
The Point (1971 Animated Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:11
The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features our animation pick, Fred Wolf’s The Point. Directed, animated and co-written by Fred Wolf and starring the voices of Mike Lookinland, Paul Frees,…
The Big Boss (1971 Foreign Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:01
The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features our foreign film pick, Bruce Lee in The Big Boss. Written and directed by Lo Wei and starring Bruce Lee, James Tien, Maria Yi and Han Ying-chieh,…
Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971 Josh's Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:37
The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features Josh’s personal pick, John D. Hancock’s Let’s Scare Jessica to Death. Directed by John D. Hancock and starring Zohra Lampert, Barton Heyman, Kev…