Smash His Camera (2010) Online

This HBO documentary traces the career of perhaps the most noted paparazzi, or photojournalist as he may want to be called, of all time. Ron Galella was 77 years old at the time the film was shot, and he is now 82. After decades of snapping photos of the stars, he was still going strong with a childlike curiosity and the philosophy of "you never know' what will happen as his motivator.

He admits that be became obsessed with photographing Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her family over a ten year period. In October 1971, he snapped a picture of her which to me may be one of the most dazzling I have ever seen of anyone. He calls it his "Mona Lisa". She is crossing the street in New York with the wind blowing her hair and just as the picture is taken she looks toward the camera and gives a half-smile. The photo was shown in many publications and even appears on the cover of the DVD case.

Galella's work is now displayed in museums, galleries, and in coffee table books. His knack for getting the photo, knowing which are the "money" shots and finding the outlets for them is amazing. He, in my opinion, has a really special eye and talent which may be unmatched. When you see in the film some of the incredible pictures he's taken of celebs, one can only marvel.

This is much discussion in the doc about First Amendment rights of the photogs vs. the right of privacy of the individuals being photographed. The movie tries to present some fairness regarding this issue, even highlighting the famous trials of Galella vs. Jackie Onassis that lasted for years. However, there isn't any celebs talking about how their lives were upended or their privacy taken away in the film, which I felt could have been done. I abhor many of the tactics the paparazzi use to get their photographs, which can possibly lead to injury or even death. Many purport that these tactics led to the death of Princess Diana. These arguments and battles are still going on today.

The documentary also contains some surprises, such as Galella meeting his wife of today Billy Burke Galella for the first time and proposing within 5 minutes and her acceptance. Also, how they love to have rabbits as pets and when they die they're buried in the backyard with monuments of large bunnies atop their graves.

The movie was directed by Leon Gast, who won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, in 1996, for "When We Were Kings".

Overall, I was riveted by this story of Ron Galella and his remarkable photos. I thought the pacing was well maintained and found it to be quite entertaining.

In an age when we crave more and more information about our favourite film stars and celebrities, the paparazzi and their intrusive cameras satiate our voyeuristic appetite for more. But their presence is despised by many, who view them as parasites. During last year's MIFF we had Teenage Paparazzo, a fascinating documentary which introduced us to a 13-year old photographer. Ron Galella is a veteran freelance photographer who has become almost as famous as the celebrities he has photographed over the past forty years. Even aged 79 he shows no sign of slowing down and we follow him through a hectic year of celebrity stalking in New York. This entertaining and appealing documentary from Leon Gast (the Oscar-winning boxing documentary When We Were Kings, etc) paints a broad and fascinating portrait of the man and his trade and the almost symbiotic relationship that exists between him and the celebrities. Galella is passionate about what he does, and has a childlike curiosity about the celebrities he pursues, which separates him from many of the other paparazzi. We learn a little about his personal history, which provides some context. Galella's mother was very interested in glamour, and this had a deep impact on him as a young boy. She even named him after actor Ronald Colman. But it was the US Air Force that gave him his start as a photographer. He would photograph visiting celebrities and print them in the base newspaper. He has also been photographing the Academy Awards since 1968! This is no empty hagiography, and the film offers up a diversity of opinion about Galella. While some sing his praises and talk about his talent and perseverance in getting the "money shots", other call him a legal stalker and a parasite and a personality profiteer. Another critic admits that Galella is blithely unaware of the impression he gives to people. Galella talks of the extraordinary lengths he goes to in order to get his shot, and he reveals his own private rules to ensure that he gets the shot. Shoot fast, before the minders shut you down or move you on. He also tells some fascinating anecdotes about some of the famous celebrities that he has photographed, at great personal cost. Katherine Hepburn was a very difficult personality and protective of her privacy, but Galella went to great lengths to get some shots of her. But is harassing a 71-year old woman a decent way to make a living? In the '70's he followed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis around the streets of New York. He calls October 1971 the best week of his life, as he managed to get the famous shot of the windblown Jackie, which he calls his "Mona Lisa shot" and which secured his reputation. But it also landed him in trouble as the former First Lady tired of his continual presence and had her security guards arrest him, telling them to "smash his camera." The resultant legal action and highly publicized trial raised a number of precedents about First Amendment issues and the journalist's right to take pictures versus the person's right to privacy. Galella also tells how he was able to get exclusive, close-up shots of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton on their private yacht in Italy. Their torrid affair while filming Cleopatra had made the couple headline worthy, and Galella seized an opportunity to try and get some shots of them. And he unashamedly tells of how he also had a run-in with the notoriously reclusive Marlon Brando who had flown in to New York to appear on the Dick Cavett show. Galella tracked him down to a restaurant, but an annoyed Brando punched him in the face. Galella sued Brando, but settled out of court. For him it was not about the money but rather about having access to the celebrities that people want to read about. Although Galella bemoans the lack of class and real star power of today's celebrities when compared to those of yesteryear. Gast has gained an unprecedented level of access to Galella, and the film is full of wonderful anecdotes and insights into his profession. Gast is even granted access to lavish New Jersey house (like something out of the Sopranos) and his basement, which is crammed with boxes and boxes of photographs stored and neatly catalogued. Gast offers a skillful mix of archival footage, montages and interviews with Galella's contemporaries, peers and even his critics to complete a well-rounded portrait. The film explores a number of complex issues about privacy, freedom of the press and the cult of celebrity worship that enables the paparazzi to do their job. The result is a fascinating, very entertaining and non-judgemental portrait of the man and his profession that is well worth watching.

Long before the days of 24 hour 7 days a week 365 days a year paparazzi a man by the name of Ron Galella happened to be around and this man during the 60's, 70's and 80's went on a tear of photographing stars and celebrities it was his personal passion it was what he lived for. Really Ron was always putting himself in danger and at risk to get snapshots and photographs of the famous and well known.

And this informative and educational HBO documentary "Smash his Camera" showed his passion and skill for taking photos and it showed the downsides of his job. Well documented was his alleged stalking of the former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy who took out restraining orders against Galella, but still that didn't stop Ron from getting his snap shots of the elegant former first lady as clearly this was a determined man who always got his picture. In fact many started labeling Ron as a stalker of the former first lady. Also compelling was his dealing with legendary actor Marlon Brandon who was so angry about getting his photographs and movements taken that he punched and apparently broke Galella's nose. Now that's what happens when you follow a person's every movement.

Really this doc is worth a watch because it informed and educated many like me about a man love him or hate him Ron Galella had a passion of taking pictures of the well known and famous even if it got him in trouble it proved that sometimes you have to be a risk taker. Because if you love your passion enough you will be brave and therefore you have to respect the man for it.

Ron Galella is a relentless paparazzi catching Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. He is an expert at planning and executing the art of stalkarazzi. He has a new book of pictures out. He took the iconic Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis picture. After catching Jackie and John Jr. in the park from behind the trees, she tells an agent to "Smash his camera!" They detained him and he sues Jackie and the Secret Service. She with Onassis' money counter-sues him.

I could not care less about the talking heads talking back and forth about Galella. The problem with this documentary is that it doesn't really challenge Galella that much. A lot of it is his point of view. Mostly it's just him talking, and talking, and talking. The music is cheerfull. The documentarian Leon Gast doesn't ask him questions on camera. He's no Errol Morris. It doesn't feel like it's digging that deep into his psyche. It's not that deep of a dig in the first place. A great interview has follow up questions. This movie doesn't really push and I don't care about his rabbits.