catherinetaormina I came across this movie as a preview for another film and I got it out of the library. I loved it and the ladies they featured. These ladies are legends and stars - they are not 20 feet from it they are knee deep in it.... I especially like the special features with the extended interviews. How nice it is to even be considered 20 feet from stardom, it is a blessing as well as a position earned through hard work, dedication and love of sharing the talent. It made me think about the position of a background session singer like a background musician...there are so many great musician out there and not all of them are stars, but they are working, well-respected and sought after...what more would anyone want from the entertainment business...it's a reward. These ladies are those people.

Marc Israel "20 Feet From Stardom" has been rightly called the sister piece to "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown". There are poignant moments in history as well as described by those we already know in the spotlight. For those of us whom already have experience the epiphany of identification with the chorus and not the lead, the film acts as validation to a point. Only one of thy stories really attempts to show the lack of real opportunity for those young black singers, but as much as I hate these singing contests on network TV, they are honest in stating they are looking for stars. I only saw one here in Darlene Love. The stories, historical clips and pictures were successful in painting the tapestry of the time ,and were the most entertaining. Claudia Lennear as one of the Ikettes, for example, was appropriate and acute. The Lisa Fischer segment seemed a bit underwhelming and left me unsympathetic. I love the music and the attitudes of the back up singers, but not everyone is a star. Bruce Springsteen is bold enough to state it, but I'm not sure if many of those on screen fully accepted that.

estebangonzalez10 "Their songs are legendary, but they are 20 feet from stardom"If someone were to ask you if you know who Merry Clayton, Darlene Love, Claudia Lennear, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega, or Judith Hill are you would probably have no clue, but I can guarantee you that you have heard their voices and hummed their music many times (and if you are too young to recall these songs, I guarantee you that the artists you listen to now have been highly influenced by their music). These talented ladies have spent most their lives singing in the background for such talented artists as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Ray, Michael Jackson, and so on. Director, Morgan Neville, gives these ladies the opportunity to finally take center stage and share their testimonies and experiences with the audience in this fascinating and engaging documentary. There is just something uplifting about being able to listen to what they have to say and finally receiving some credit for their major contribution in helping shape music across the globe (beginning in the 50's with the Motown revolution). They may have never made it as leading singers, but the passion these women have for music transcends the camera and listening to their testimonies almost becomes a religious experience in itself. The film has some compelling interviews and uses archives really well to set the tone and take us through a history lesson in music. I also enjoyed the interviews with the famous artists like Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Mick Jagger who spoke very fondly of these women who have played an instrumental part in their music. It is hard to resist a documentary like this with such uplifting music.Getting to hear the testimonies of some of these talented ladies was probably the highlight of this documentary, although at times some of the interviews really didn't seem to be going anywhere. At other times they raised questions that they sort of left out in the air and only scratched the surface instead of delving deep. The documentary was a bit uneven in that sense, but every time I thought I was going to get irritated by it, the music and the passion these people have for it brought me right back in. I can see how this film attracted Academy voters as it won for best documentary feature, but by no means do I think it was the best documentary of the year. It is good to give these ladies credit for their contribution to the music industry, but the documentary never feels groundbreaking. After Searching for Sugarman's Oscar win last year, this marks the second year in a row in which a music themed documentary wins the Academy's votes, and there has sort of been a shift in the voters from political themes aiming towards the artistic side. It was an entertaining and uplifting documentary and I am glad I got to know a little more about these women and understand the passion they share for music. The 90 minute documentary succeeds in giving these ladies a voice of their own and making the audience appreciate the work and sacrifice it takes to be a backup singer.

ikeybabe This was terrific! I've always wondered about the background singers who belt out the songs in an effort to make the headliner shine. And this told their story in their words. My only complaint - I wanted to hear more singing. Seeing these women getting the recognition they deserve was great. And listening to them tell their stories about singing their hearts out only to have someone else take the credit, was moving. But still, they kept moving forward. I remember when Lisa Fischer stepped forward and was such a hit with her Grammy-winning single. I loved her! But I get why she didn't want to be in the spotlight. It's not for everyone. And to hear how one singer couldn't live off of her talent and had to teach Spanish to make ends meet is sad. But it also showed that regardless of talent, drive and commitment, there are no guarantees and life isn't fair.