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
Edge Of Tomorrow (2014 Future Cult Classic) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:55
The thirteenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features our cult classic pick, Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow. Directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Glee…
John Wick (2014 Dave's Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:10
The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features our producer David Rosen’s pick, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch’s John Wick. Directed by Chad Stahelski and an uncredited David Leitch from a…
Birdman (2014 Best Picture Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:12
The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman. Directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu and star…
Whiplash (2014 Sundance Award Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:43
The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Miles Teller…
Ping Pong Summer (2014 Jason's Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:27
The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features Jason’s personal pick, Michael Tully’s Ping Pong Summer. Written and directed by Michael Tully and starring Marcello Conte, Myles Massey, Emmi Sh…
The Lego Movie (2014 Animated Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:22
The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features our animation pick, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s The Lego Movie. Written and directed by Lord and Miller and starring Chris Pratt, Elizabe…
Force Majeure (2014 Foreign Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features our foreign film pick, Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure. Written and directed by Ruben Östlund and starring Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsl…
A Most Violent Year (2014 Josh's Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:52
The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features Josh’s personal pick, J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year. Written and directed by J.C. Chandor and starring Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, Albert…
Winter Sleep (2014 Cannes Award Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:19
The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep. Directed and co-written by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and starring Haluk Bi…
Transcendence (2014 Box Office Flop) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:16
The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features the year’s biggest flop, Wally Pfister’s Transcendence. Directed by Wally Pfister from a screenplay by Jack Paglen and starring Johnny Depp, Rebe…