Just what I expected

As Good As It Gets

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I had never heard of Vivian Maier. Neither had many of those in attendance at a local library showing this compelling documentary. We have John Maloof, a film maker, to thank for exposing (if you will excuse the pun) this extraordinary collection of photos taken by Ms. Maier. The collection consisted of over 100,000 photos purchased at auction by Mr. Maloof. Even if you have no interest in photography this is worth seeing for the photos which portray peoples of Chicago and New York. It is also the story of this enigmatic lady who, after her death, earned the reputation as one of this Country's most accomplished street photographers.

"Finding Vivian Maier" was certainly one of the more interesting documentaries that I've seen in quite a while.Eccentric, secretive, enigmatic - Vivian Maier (who, besides being nanny) was also an amateur street-photographer with an exceptionally acute "photographic-eye".To me, the most surprising thing about Vivian was that throughout her lifetime she never once showed her photographic work to anyone (and yet her output was phenomenal). Yes. Vivian was so private, yet so prolific.Through interviews with members of the families whom Vivian had worked for from the late-1950s, onwards, the viewer gets a somewhat clearer picture as to who Vivian Maier really was.But, the truth is, we will never, ever know the real story of the "real" Vivian Maier (who, sadly enough, died in 2009 in a state of poverty).

An intriguing, well-constructed documentary that I highly recommended for every artist and indeed for all who appreciate a great image. Maier is only beginning to be recognized as one of America's premiere street photographers. Her compelling body of work, never seen during her lifetime, was discovered posthumously and by accident. This film attempts to piece together her mysterious story.Vivian's lens turned ordinary Chicago street scenes into iconic expressions of human dignity. The effect is powerful and moving. Her work might have been lost to the world, and is sadly again in peril because of a lawsuit concerning ownership of the copyright to her negatives. What a tragedy it will be if her photographs are again locked away from the public. PLEASE look at her work! It takes my breath away.

There is definitely an odd atmosphere that runs throughout the edges of this film, and it really does work in the context of what it's about. It's basically informative until it's just some kind of real mystery, with a woman that might've, most likely, had secrets of some kind. The real-life story is fascinating enough, and you wonder if some of the things could've even been set up. it sounds like the work of fiction, the dark shadow that is really built up with this woman at the core that's about ready to jump and lurch forward at you. It's intriguing, if maybe at times the film is too long to even warrant its short running time. Regardless, it mostly works so that's a small complaint.