Sketches of Frank Gehry by Sydney Pollack [DVD]

I believe Syd Pollack is the premier moviemaker of my generation. I believe Frank Gehry is one of the Top 3 architects of this period. My interest in architecture/film led me to see this documentary more for the Pollack influence than for Gehry. But, I also have a very close friend who is friends with the Pollack's AND had a relationship with Gehry on previous boards in the 80s. AND, his art collection includes a "fish lamp" in his living room. Spellbound by the story of being offered over $100,000 for this, this, LAMP, I felt it was time to explore Gehry's work in more depth, a two for one.This DVD is not for commercial sucess, it is a labor of love between two friends. Pollack has no reason to do this other than a love and appreciation for another artist. And Gehry has no reason to be so forthcoming and delve back into his life except to satisfy his friend. So what this becomes is just an open discussion between friends centered around architecture and career.I must now admit that I am not a large fan of Gehry's architecture. It is too abstract for me. I prefer balance and clean lines and Gehry is about creation and a unique thought process. But I can appreciate the artistry even if it is not my favorite artwork.This is an important DVD and should be watched as it is a reflection of American artistry from 1960 forward by two masters. But more so, two years later, due to the passing of Syd Pollack, a true legend of a film director. So I am touched and grateful for having watched this shortly before Pollack's death and having also sent this DVD to two other friends to watch and discuss and enjoy the work of Gehry. But also for one more reason: Gehry late in the DVD describes his fascination with the body of a fish and Pollack flashes pictures of the many buildings with unique structure which you can now clearly see are designed like a fish. But it all started with an unattractive lamp......

I sat down to watch this film with next to no knowledge of architecture. I was a blank slate on which Sydney Pollock could draw the myth of Frank Gehry in a convincing fashion. In the end I was convinced of his genius even if the film left a little to be desired. We follow Gehry around during his public and private life. He talks about his past and his family, and we get to see him working on various projects. That is basically the whole of the film. Pollock is not only the director but also a star as he carries a camera and has a camera follow him. There are traces of "William Eggleston in the Real World" here, and since that film was the worst of last year that is not a compliment. The camera does stay on Gehry for an unusually long time as he spouts off as though he were some sort of oracle. A lot of times nothing but gibberish is coming out of his mouth. Ultimately Gehry is much better company than Eggleston which prevents it from falling into that pit.The thing that defines Gehry, according to this film, is his willingness to be viewed as a radical within his own profession. At one point the even states that there are just some things about his profession that bug him. What is unique about this complaint is that he presents it as though he were the first person to ever feel this way. Everybody feels that way, Gehry however if one of the rare people who stand up to his annoyance. As is the norm, Pollock brings in Gehry's groupies to sing his praises. Then, in the name of fairness I suppose, he brings in a "naysayer" to try and counteract everything that had been said before. This guy puts on his Andy Warhol voice and begins to pontificate about how the only thing Gehry does is create spectacles. Well I sure like spectacles, don't you? Especially in a world a forced similarity isn't it refreshing to see something buck the trend, any trend? There were a few of his works that didn't work on me. The segment on his fish stage had me flashing back to "Art School Confidential" and hearing John Malkovich say that he was one of the first to do the triangles. The chain link fence designs did seem a little pretentious to me, but it was so out there that I had no choice but to appreciate the audacity. And that's kind of the point, the more he switched it up the more I liked it. The film itself was a straight shooter that had no agenda and never strutted for the audience. It was brief, never lost focus, and was, in general, a good time. All of this came as something of a shock to me. Those attributes I listed above also, from time to time, worked against the film. "Sketches of Frank Gehry" was the equivalent of a cookie-cutter suburban two story. A well made two story, sure, but still cookie-cutter. Bland and status quo and something that would be embarrassed to be standing next to a Frank Gehry masterpiece. I have nothing bad to say about this film, just not enough good to recommend it. ***

As an architect myself I found this DVD to provide a fascinating behind the scenes look at the creative process of one of the preeminant architects of our time. Sydney Pollack's layman approach to direction with hand-held camera work and one-on-one interviews gives a skillful perspective that demystifies Frank Gehry's growth as an architect. Gehry's early work at Vitra to the celebrated Museum in Bilbao Spain (which many have compared on equal footing with Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water house as the greatest commercial piece of architecture in the last 100 years ) are all celebrated here with plenty of video documentation. It is very clear early on in this documentary that Sydney Pollack was the right choice for the job of documenting Frank's ascension as one of the top designers practicing today. Sydney's friendship with Gehry clearly shows through and keeps Gehry's guard down so that we all benefit from this deeply personal look at how Gehry's early personal life struggles give way to a steely determination to become an architect and designer at the highest level of his trade. HIs firm's unique use of model making and computer generated explorations of each design are highlighted as they move from Frank's scribbled sketches to ultimate construction to stand the tests of time. I couldn't recommend this DVD higher !

I thought the movie was interesting. I saw the middle half at LACMA and the beginning and end at home. I thought it was interesting to see Gehry in the middle of end of the century art movements and artists, but really I didn't see the point of or reason for admiration for his house surrounded by a chain link fence. I have driven around Los Angeles since seeing the movie, and my husband and I label every corrugated metal roof as a "gehry." So I guess seeing the movie has provoked a lot of fun for us. I definitely think it was more worth seeing the movie than seeing the exhibit at LACMA. The real discussions about how to change a model were more interesting than seeing the models themselves.

A fascinating and intriguing insight into one of the most amazing, and influential architects of our time. Amazing!!!

The interview was extraordinary because of the rapport between Gehry and Pollack. One got the impression that there were no evasions and that Gehry treated each question with respect and as honestly as he cd. A calm and thoughtful experience.

this dvd is an excellent insight into the works of Frank Gehry its pleasant watching and inspirational.

Not as boring as other architectural movies

Hier ist Sidney Pollack ein kreativer und brillanter Film gelungen, der nicht nur vielseitige Einblicke in das Schaffen von Frank Gehry bietet, sondern dem Betrachter auch die Persönlichkeit des Star-Architekten näherbringt. Dass er dies auf eher unkonventionelle und verblüffend offene Weise tut, zeigt, dass der mittlerweile verstorbene Regisseur hier nicht nur einen genialen Architekten, sondern gleichzeitig auch den Menschen hinter den Ideen und seinen persönlichen Freund portraitieren wollte, was ihm bestens gelungen ist.Sehr empfehlenswert für alle, die sich für Frank Gehry, für Architektur, speziell für die dekonstruktivistische, skulpturale interessieren, aber auch für all jene, die sich gerne mit unterschiedlichsten Aspekten von Kreativität auseinandersetzen. Der Film ist ein großartiges und herausragendes Portrait eines außergewöhnlichen Architekten.