By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Sydney Pollack
Country: germany, united_states
Year: 2006
Running time: 83
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446784/
Bruce says: “Sydney Pollock is an experienced, award-winning filmmaker. Until SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY, all of his films have been feature films, not a single documentary in his portfolio. What made him make this film? Gehry and Pollock have been friends for many years. ‘I don’t know a thing about architecture,’ claims Pollock. ‘That’s why you’re perfect’ (for the job), replies Gehry. The film at times is merely a running dialogue between the two. They exchange ideas and challenge each other’s thinking.
“There are many expert opinions offered about Gehry’s work. Some unlikely talking heads pop up, too. Bob Geldof is a huge Gehry fan as is Dennis Hopper who lives in a Gerhy house. However, it is Milton Wexler, Gehry’s 94 year old therapist, who steals the show, talking freely about Gehry’s therapy, his success and his early failures.
“Becoming famous has not been easy for Gehry. He changed his name in 1954 to sound less Jewish. He has declared bankruptcy on more than one occasion. His failed marriage affected his work. His early client relationships were stormy. Gehry claims that Wixler taught him to be a teacher, not a dogmatic architect. He has learned to make peace with the commercial world; he has learned how to satisfy his clients.
“The most fascinating moments of this film occur as Gehry discusses his creative process. His method of design is fluid and open. He listens to others but never stops until the magic moment occurs when he attains satisfaction. Often he works using two or three scales at once to avoid the pitfall of the architectural model becoming an object of desire.
“It was the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao which immortalized Gehry. Since its completion in 1997, Gehry’s firm is in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose which projects are taken on. Listening to him (and his therapist) discuss the many personal and professional changes in his life, the obvious conclusion is that fame waited for Gehry until he was prepared for it. SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY is inspiring and stimulating. 4 cats”
Michael says: “Hollywood feature film director Sydney Pollack tried his hand at the documentary form when his friend Frank Gehry asked him to make a film about the famous architect’s life. Pollack does a fine job on his first non-fiction film, drawing a well-rounded document of Gehry’s professional life, with a warm glimpse into the man’s personality as well. SKETCHES benefits from such an intriguing and talented subject, and the friendly relationship shared by him and the filmmaker makes for an interesting dialogue. Pollack frequently compares the artistic elements of architecture with those of film directing to good effect. The film is filled with images of Gehry’s architectural work intercutting talking head interviews by experts in the field, artists, and friend’s of Gehry’s, footage of Gehry and his team working on projects, and conversations between Gehry and Pollack. SKETCHES avoids being a lovefest by introducing one critic of the architect’s work, and making reference to the fact that any artistic work that is as unique and bold as Gehry’s creates polarizing opinion. Interestingly enough, I was often reminded of the Chlotrudis Awards-nominated film MY FATHER, THE GENIUS, a biographical documentary that Lucia Small made about her architect father. Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY so much. 4 cats”