|
Coming soon: A review of "The Sketches of Frank Gehry".
I first heard of this movie at the Museum of Fine Arts. It was playing there and I missed it, but it looked interesting.
So I ordered it on Netflix and then promptly forgot what it was about or why I ever wanted to see it. So I kept sliding it
down on the list (trust, mistrust) until, finally, I forgot to manage my list and it came to the house. That can
happen, as you know.
This movie was just the thing that fits inside you and never goes away. John Waters and Andrew Moore put together a film
about the artist, Ray Johnson, that leaves you wondering which is better--Ray Johnson--or the movie? The answer is --both.
Okay, Ray Johnson was, well, Ray Johnson. The movie is a Ray Johnson motico. On one level it plays as a retrospective of Ray's
live and his art. On another level it plays out as a totally noir B detective movie. More like a noir detective documentary.
(Remember Dragnet?) It's Dragnet in an exquisitly "Ray" way. Ray Johnson was not an outsider artist. He knew everyone in the
arts, and everyone knew him. But in an important sense he was an outsider artist. He was outside of everything. Hilarious
interviews with friends who tried to buy some of his art work. The negotiations over the sales became bigger than the art.
And the art is stunning. Film footage of Ray at a suburban garden party-episodes on his "foot" period. He drew and collaged
feet for a long time. Finally he rented a helicoper and dropped "foot-long" hot dogs over Long Island. I can't tell you what
a fabulous movie this is. I am thinking of holding a showing of if\t. Yes, of course I own it.
The footage of Norman Solomon giving a totally serious interview in sunglasses with white ring-hole reinforcers pasted
on them is enough reason to see the movie.At first it's just absurd. then it's seriously funny for no good reason. Then it's
over-the-top hilarious. And you just don't know why. I love this movie.
Don't be a dolt...learn more here
Ghengis Blues
Paul Pena is an old bluesman, now blind and living in San Francisco. He hears
Tuvan throat singing on the radio and becomes caught up in the music and the culture. He hooks up with an eclectic band of
musicians and other afficianados and they all end up traveling to Tuva together where the bluesman participates in one of
the Tuvan throat singing conventions. Honestly, the movie is a lot more than this. It's about survival and taking care of
each other. It's about space and ownership and provides a stark contrast between Tuvan life and philosophy and what passes
for such in America. All the characters, Tuvan and American, are real people and wonderful. See real Tuvan monuments
to Richard Feynman.
Ghengis Blues Website
|
