I've seen most of the new movies you mention--you're ahead of me in reviewing them here. I haven't seen the older ones. I've seen Rust Never Sleeps and Year of the Horse as well as Greendale, and enjoy all his efforts but consider Young's greatest contribution to films to be probably his music for Dead Man.
pmw's entry:I saw this some time ago, after it had already been showing for ages in Berkeley and I posted a review of it: http://www.chrisknipp.com/writing/viewtopic.php?t=74. The thing that's fake about the movie is that everybody but Goldsworthy is mere furniture in it, including his wife and his many assistants. This appeared to be a perfect date movie for fifty-somethings. I watched it patiently. I think it was okay. But why people raved about it I have no idea. Some proclaimed themselves bored to tears. Goldsworthy is like that Indian artist who makes things covered in raw pigment, Anish Kapoor (who got to do an installation in the huge Turbine Hall of Tate Modern in London -- rather mediocre, not up to his smaller stuff): Goldworthy's like Kapoor's work is very pretty and impressive, and he has successfully cultuvated an international reputation, bolstered for the average Joe by heaps of lavish art books commemorating his various temporary pieces. If you're doing a searching evaluation, they're both superficial, Kapoor and Goldsworthy, and utterly without content. The film does show Godsworthy's patience with his failures, which is impressive, but it doesn't question enough or delve deeply enough to be interesting as a documentary. It's like a long promo piece.quote:
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Originally posted by oscar jubis
pmw, I don't know enough to tell an interesting artist (outside of film) from a great one. I go to the occasional exhibit (last one happened to be mum's) or museum, and I know what I like. But I don't have the background to get into a deeper discussion about art. I am attracted to the "purity" of Goldsworthy's art and his creative process. Maybe his creations lack the necessary social dimension to be great art? (I'm trying pmw).
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pmw's comment:
Yeah, im not sure what i know either. But I think youre on to something that bothers me a little ("Maybe his creations lack the necessary social dimension to be great art?"). His work is fairly self-involved and a bit precious....dont know what else to say really. It's beautiful nonetheless. I really enjoyed the movie.
I too loved Festival Express and the glimpse of Janis Joplin's "giving" quality in her songs, truly an amazing performance and a magical time; but I did not envy them all the drinking.
Want to comment on Beyond the Sea later in more detail. It seems to combine campy fun/deft nightclub performance/mediocre movie/creepy self-absorption in a rather unforgettable way.
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