IRIS

(2014) Directed by documentary filmmaking legend Albert Maysles, Iris is the story of Iris Apfel, who along with her husband Carl already had long-held successful interior design and fabric businesses when, at the age of 90+, Iris's decades of collecting clothing and accessories from around the world jump-started her new career as fashion icon. Always a prominent figure in New York's fashion and social scenes due to her eclectic, one-of-a-kind style in mixing top designers with bargain basement accessories to create art, the film is a perfect showcase for the incredible energy, wit, passion, and love for life that turned a working-class girl from Queens into a much-emulated hometown celebrity. It took me all of maybe three minutes to fall in love with Iris's spirit and down-to-earth mindset; never once do you hear/see her critique what anyone else is wearing or saying, as first and foremost Iris believes everyone should be comfortable with and love themselves first; she's her own person, and respects the same in anyone else. A truly inspiring, funny lady beloved by so many, both in her industry and out, and after watching this documentary it's easy to see why. How wonderful it would be just to hang out with her, even for an hour. (rated PG-13)  8/10 stars