First Face: The Buck Starts Here

The famous portrait of George Washington appearing on the U.S. dollar bill is the subject of this slight but entertaining documentary that focuses more on artist Gilbert Stuart and the mythic image of Washington that his painting has fostered than on the historical figure of Washington himself. Filmmakers Jim Wolpaw and Steve Gentile essentially deliver a brief biography of portraitist Stuart that emphasizes not only his talent but also his freewheeling lifestyle, tendency to fall deeply into debt, and his addiction to snuff (mentioned so frequently that it almost becomes a motif). Because of Washington's stoic demeanor and reticence, Stuart wasn't able to employ his usual method of chatting up his subjects in order to reveal their character (one explanation for Washington's impassivity is his painful false teeth). The story is fleshed out with interview clips featuring historians, art experts, and modern presidential portraitists, backed with collages of other artworks and still photographs. And the makers go on to show how Stuart's iconic image has been “completed” by ordinary folk—school kids, senior citizens, immigrants—in highly imaginative, often humorous ways, including at an outdoor celebration at Boston Commons where Washington's solemn face serves as the launching pad for flights of artistic fancy. DVD extras include the bonus short “Who Was Gilbert Stuart?” Recommended, overall. Aud: J, H, P. (F. Swietek)