56. SMASH HIS CAMERA

he is scum; a bottom feeder; a stalker.  he's rich, he's married, he has over 3 million photos of the icons of a generation, he's published multiple books.  he was sued by jacqueline onassis, had 5 teeth punched out by marlon brando.  even at 77, the age he was for this documentary, released in 2010, he has passion, fire, energy to sit and wait, to plan, to drive like a maniac to get there first.  HE is ron gallela, noted paparazzi, who began his work in the 60s, when photographers still used film and dark rooms.  parts of the film are debates among contemporaries regarding just WHAT he does.....is it ART?  is it valid?  these questions are based on his exhibit in the metropolitan museum of art--does this exhibit belong there?  is there ART to the photos, or is it just all about capturing the famous person in a normal every day act?  a young viewer of the photographs can barely recognize any of them--bar DOT--who is bar DOT (pronounced how it is spelled). this one is of tayler burton?  (like that's one person's name, not the last names of 2 film legends).  another debate through the film is between attorneys--should the rights of the paparazzi be protected under the 1st amendment?  are the lives of public figures public in their entirety?  all recognize it as a slippery slope.  once freedoms come with restrictions, are they freedoms anymore?  i think that in today's world, we're all very aware of the paparazzi; how invasive they are; how ever-present; how sneaky.  most of us might say it's just not right.  yet.........we look forward to our people magazine every week; we buy that enquirer from the checkout line; the public seems to have an insatiable thirst for photos of the famous doing normal activities.  what is the answer?  not mentioned in this film, of course, is the efforts of some big stars of today to make it illegal for paparazzi to photograph children.  ron gallela did that regularly to caroline and john kennedy jr, one of the issues that enraged their mother.  at least THAT seems to be an issue most can agree is wrong.  the rest of it?........what IS the price of stardom?  the price of earning substantial millions to act in a film?  these are good questions, but there are currently no good answers.  by the way, the title of this film was spoken by jackie kennedy onassis, to the secret service agent protecting her son, as ron gallela hid behind a tree to snap a photo of mom and son riding bikes in central park.  the cameras were not smashed and the photo is among those 3 million housed in the enormous basement files at gallela's home.

55. DEAR ZACHARY

a tribute to a well loved guy, his well loved parents, by his long time friend.  we learn early that andrew bagby was the victim of a murder.  to say much more about the film would give away too much.  the filmmaker uses a unique style to tell the story and convey very clearly what a great guy andrew was, as well as what great people the parents (kate and david) that raised him are.  i can't help but think that's the way to live a life; to have soooooo many people miss you when you're gone and be so grateful for the time you were in their life.  and, how great it would be to have a filmmaker friend to be able to document it all so well in such a moving way.

54. AFTER PORN ENDS

 a film about porn stars and what their lives are like after they leave the industry.  it seems that a film like this should be so interesting.  however, it's quite tedious.  each describes how they got started in the industry.  most just fell into it because they were good looking, they didn't have anything else going on, and they could make quick money.  some of the women look ridiculous--so plastic'd up as they are.  most all note that their past comes back to haunt them.  some invested wisely, but many noted that once they quit, they went through their money very quickly.  many had issues with drugs and alcohol.  many have successful marriages and family after.  there's just not much else to say.  i can't say that i learned a lot from the film, except that it's a topic i didn't know much about.  i did find one story pretty fascinating.  the porn star woman says there isn't anything more to sex in the movies than sticking your finger in your ear.  just one body part poking into another body part and nothing more than that.  those that now have loving relationships are quick to distinguish sex from love; they're grateful they found partners that can overlook the past.  all that said.............that work doesn't go away......

53. GREGORY CREWDSON: BRIEF ENCOUNTERS

 a photographer who doesn't carry a camera or really even take the photos; the eye of a filmmaker, but freezing the film into just one frame.  he creates elaborately staged images, with attention to every detail.  the final products are large.....maybe 5 ft x 7 ft?  they are nearly all filmed at twilight, in small dying massachusetts towns, because he uses lighting to get the right effect.  as he notes, he has about 20 minutes to get the shot right.  some are shot on sound stages.  he credits a museum trip with his father, to see a diane arbus exhibit, for igniting his creative spirit.  liking a girl in high school, who was a photographer, prompted him to take a photo class and sealed the deal on his future life work.  haunting a certainly a desciptive word for his work.  he captures a moment in time, and insists he really doesn't care about the minute before or the minute after the image.  the filming took place over a 4 year period while gregory created his "beneath the roses" exhibit.  his eye focuses on the secrets beneath the scene; a strategy he relates to experiences when he was growing up in trying to overhear the psychoanalytic counseling sessions his father held in the basement office.  the images certainly make the viewer wonder just what's up; it's pretty powerful photography that involves dozens of people making one man's vision a reality.

52. THE ELEANOR ROOSEVELT STORY

a warm, honest fearless woman; the first lady of the world; a consummate humanitarian.  described as plain, and even ugly, in her youth; grown up somewhat lonely with a brother 6 yrs younger, her mother having died when she was a young teen  and her father sent away to convalesce due to effects of alcoholism, eleanor roosevelt found comfort and acceptance in her 5th cousin, FDR.  the film was released in 1965, and won best documentary feature that year.  it is comprised primarily of newsreels and old still photos.  one review described the film as reverent and it certainly is.  there are two things i found fascinating--i'd always heard she was the "eyes and ears" for her husband, but i didn't know she was the legs.  she put tremendous time and energy into travel--meeting with PEOPLE.  her interests, issues, and causes always came back to basic human emotions and people.  her heart took in the needs, concerns and views of the real people that she met and interacted with.  her opinions were often controversial.  she was a crusader for civil rights long before it was fashionable or acceptable.  this is proven out by truman's appointing her to be a delegate to the newly formed united nations, where she was appointed chairperson of the committee to develop policy on international declaration of human rights.  this is the second thing that i had no knowledge of.  the film also seems to indicate that had it not been for eleanor's efforts, FDR may not have become our president after being stricken with polio.  his strong mother was of the opinion to "just let him be", but eleanor persisted in her encouragement and support to get him on the ballot.  sure, she may not have been a delicate flower of a woman on the outside, but she owned a smile that showed her soul, where there was a virtual garden of good, kind, fair and true beliefs as to how humans should be treated.  i learned a lot about the great woman behind and beside the great man.

51. It's been a long time! 3 weeks or so. 20 FEET FROM STARDOM

well..........i took a bit of a hiatus, didn't i?  i was gone on vacation;  before and after must have been all about the trip.  i've been wanting to see this film since i first heard about it on sunday morning with charles osgood.  it was also nominated for, and won, an academy award.  backup singers.  do we give them much thought?  likely not.  but, we should; most definitely.  the film loosely addresses darlene love, one of the first backup singers of the generation when many such singers were black.  darlene started with "the blossoms".  prior to them, backup singers were generally stiff and just sang the music as written.  singers such as the blossoms FELT the music.  they moved.  they danced.  they added their style.  we know the voices.  we hear them on some of the most famous songs of all time--with the rolling stones, sting, stevie wonder, bruce springsteen, michael jackson and countless others.  at time, especially in the 60's, we THINK songs were performed by one group, when in reality it's the backup singers performing but not getting credit.  all of these women have stories.  many desired solo careers, some got them.  some succeeded, most didn't.  all of them have a deep love of singing and recognize that the sacrifice to being a backup singer is always harmonizing with the others; rarely being the singer that any one of them would likely be on their own.  there are interviews, archival footage, and music......lots of music sung by these extremely talented women.  most realized at some point that to sing backup allows them to exercise the passion of singing, without the drawbacks of dealing with the business aspects of the music world; without the drawback of always being recognized; without the drawback of singing only one genre.  this is a fantastic tribute to the women who actually make the music.  i don't know that i've ever given credit to the backup singers, but they MAKE the sound.  in fact, most of us only know the lyrics that are sung by backups..........since they usually sing "the hook".  i enjoyed the interviews with mick jagger, sting, bruce, stevie........all who recognize that their music exists because of the what the backup singers bring to it.  i recommend this film to anyone who enjoys music.  i guarantee you will pay more attention to those voices behind the star the next time you listen to a song!