My Architect: A Son’s Journey (2003), Nathaniel Kahn, D
I hate to be mean — ’cause Nathaniel Kahn seems like a nice guy and I know this is his life I’m talking about — but what self-indulgent, boring crap! It is especially painful having just seen the brilliant Daniel Johnston documentary. You can’t just say “Oh! Dysfunctional family and (somewhat) famous guy! Let’s shoot!” No. You need to have something to say. . .or at least a better hook. ‘Cause there are movies out there like “Capturing the Friedmans” that are going to out-weird you, or movies like “The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack” where the man at the center just. . .does more! Sure, a couple of shots of Louis Kahn’s buildings with some tempestuous orchestral music. . .it looks great in the trailer. . .but what about the other 118 minutes?
And, if I may, many of Kahn’s buildings aren’t that inspiring. And his lectures about “listening to brick” make him sound like an ass. Nathaniel Kahn should be glad this dingus neglected him.
Booooooooo! This was a great movie. Watch it again, especially the part where the Bangladeshi guy gets all choked up talking about Khan designing their parliament building. Khan must have done something right if he can make people weep about the place where the gov’t collects all the bribes. And I defy you not to be moved by the Salk Institute, if you’re actually there and not just looking at a picture of it – what makes it all work is the setting and the sound of the ocean.
Comment by rozger — April 17, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
You mentioned the only two good parts in the movie.
Comment by Jordan — April 17, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
Skip Sketches with Frank Gehry as well…Considering the Director had the ear of Gehry himself little was revealed beyond “Hey, this guy makes crazy buildings!!”…they also neglected to show the KFC by my house which was designed by Gehry as well….craziest KFC I’ve ever seen!!!
Comment by Ralph Pulner — April 18, 2007 @ 12:14 am
[...] “Alice Neel,” directed by her grandson Andrew, is everything the miserable film My Architect is not. For starters, it is just flat-out entertaining. Alice herself is a marvelous subject. Seen in ample found footage she is warm and wonderful but also, at times, exasperating. And, of course, there is her artwork. I’ll admit: I never heard of her before (Ann has, so we’re not a completely ignorant household.) Her paintings are absolutely mesmerizing. Her portraits are frequently heartbreaking. . .in a way that is difficult to explain. There is a tremendous raw energy to the paintings, as well as a definite, unworldly perspective. There are frequent sequences in “Alice Neel” where we simply scroll through images. They say more about the characters of the story than any talking head can. [...]
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