Watched "Queen of Versailles" last night

The David Siegel/90K-square-foot unfinished house saga. Man, what a mess.

Some observations:

-The clutter in their 26K square-foot home is overwhelming, as is the growing amount of dog waste on their floors as staff is cut to save money post-meltdown.

-Siegel is the quintessential unhappy rich guy. He has 13 kids, no emotional intimacy with any of them. His older son, who is featured in the movie, confirms it. In one scene, his wife sends one of his younger sons into Siegel's den to cheer him up by telling him he loves him. Siegel glares at the kid for a moment and then says, "thank you," in a you're dismissed kind of way.

-The domestic servants are the most reliable sources of affection; one boy sleeps in a maid's room because it's small and cozy and she because she loves the child without reserve.

-One Filipina maid hasn't seen her own son in about 20 years, since he was six. A very tough scene to watch as she describes the path her life has taken out of economic necessity.

-The children are the saddest aspect of the movie. Siegel says he hasn't set aside a dime for them, even though he was once a billionaire. He is killing them slowly but surely. It's really fucked up.

-As ridiculous a figure as his implanted and botoxed wife Jacqueline appears to be, she is more distracted than despicable. She's not evil, but she'll never grow up.

I could go on, but Lauren Greenfield has put together one of the most vivid real-life representations you'll ever see of the emptiness and heartache that goes with a life filled with unquenchable needs and totally driven by money. As snapshots of America go, it's a keeper.