|
|
  
Back Shelf Beauties
|
Sketches of Frank Gehry Sketches of Frank Gehry is a virtual love letter to the architect by his pal and legendary film director Sidney Pollack, so be ready to look at many many many many buildings, but you don't exactly get much insight into the legendary designer. Pollack takes us through Gehry's life as we learn in interviews with the architect how those in his field regarded him early in his career, how he found a common bond with artists who could appreciate his wacky designs, and a look at the artistic process of coming up with a design, models and final products. However, Pollack is too friendly with his subject (almost to the point of having a man crush on Gehry). The theme of Sketches of Frank Gehry is reduced to, "I think Frank Gehry is super awesome, and you should, too," as it lacks any one story to keep it together or intellectual debate about the worth of the architect's work, and focuses too much on famous people who have had stuff designed by the man. I don't care what Dennis Hopper or Michael Eisner have to say about Gehry's work. I'd rather learn something about his place in architecture's history, which is not evident after watching the movie. Worst of all, Sketches of Frank Gehry rambles and meanders along with no structure. Pollack almost stumbles onto a storyline as we learn more about Gehry's design of the Guggenheim in Bilboa, Spain, which draws in the audience as we learn about it's groundbreaking look and impact on the community, and, again, as we learn about Gehry's efforts and motivations for building Maggie's Place, but we need more, especially if you are not an architectural student or admirer. 1 ½ Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2006 - WaffleMovies.com
|
