Art World
Biopics, documentaries, comedies, and dramas related to fine art, modern art, architecture, and design
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- DirectorAmber EdwardsStarsJoe MortonTells how black artists triumphed over formidable odds. Features more than 130 rarely seen paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures by black artists, and even more rarely seen archival footage of those artists at work. The period of the 1920s and '30s known as the Harlem Renaissance encompassed an extraordinary outburst of creativity by African-American visual artists. Racial prejudice and segregation, however, not only kept them out of the mainstream museums and galleries where they could show and sell their art, but threatened the very core of their personal artistic expression. Rich archival footage, including newsreels and photographs, recalls the influential force of the exhibitions, the vibrancy of Harlem in the roaring twenties, and the many significant personalities that shaped the movement, such as William E. Harmon, W.E.B. DuBois, and Alain Locke.
- DirectorRic BurnsStarsAnsel AdamsJosh HamiltonBarbara FeldonAn in depth study of Adams's life and work.
- DirectorVanessa GouldStarsErik D. DemaineMartin L. DemaineVincent FlodererDepicts a cast of fine artists and eccentric scientists (from MIT and NASA) who have devoted their lives to the unlikely medium of modern origami. Through their determination to reinterpret the world in paper, they arouse a fascinating mix of sensibilities towards art, form, expressiveness, creativity and meaning.
- DirectorRichard PressStarsBill CunninghamAnna WintourMichael KorsA profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer.
- 1985– 1h 52mTV-PG7.9 (135)TV EpisodeDirectorDyanna TaylorStarsDyanna TaylorDorothea LangeClair BrownHer photo Migrant Mother is one of the most recognized images in the world, a portrait that came to represent America's Great Depression. Few know the story, struggles and body of work of the woman who created the portrait: Dorothea Lange.
- DirectorBanksyStarsBanksyMr. BrainwashSpace InvaderFollowing the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
- DirectorPeter RosenStarsI.M. Pei90-minute special on the architect. Filmed throughout the world over a two-year period.
- DirectorGary HustwitStarsManfred SchulzMassimo VignelliRick PoynorA documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture.
- DirectorCarlos CarcasNorberto López AmadoStarsNorman FosterDeyan SudjicThe film traces the rise of one of the world's premier architects, Norman Foster, and his unending quest to improve the quality of life through design.
- DirectorJohn W. WalterStarsJoseph IalacciRichard FeigenFrances BeattyInterviews with Christo, Chuck Close, Roy Lichtenstein, Judith Malina, James Rosenquist and others help illuminate the life and work of Warhol contemporary Ray Johnson.
- DirectorJeffrey WolfStarsRosalie SorrelsRobert StorrTerry WintersA Documentary on James Castle that reveals the artist's life and creative process, as told by family members, art historians, curators, artists, collectors, and members of the deaf community. A true case of triumph of the spirit, Castle's inspirational story is one of monumental achievement.
- DirectorTamra DavisStarsJean Michel BasquiatJulian SchnabelLarry GagosianDirector Tamra Davis pays homage to her friend in this definitive documentary but also delves into Basquiat as an iconoclast. His dense, bebop-influenced neoexpressionist work emerged while minimalist, conceptual art was the fad; as a successful black artist, he was constantly confronted by racism and misconceptions. Much can be gleaned from insider interviews and archival footage, but it is Basquiat's own words and work that powerfully convey the mystique and allure of both the artist and the man.
- DirectorHenri-Georges ClouzotStarsPablo PicassoHenri-Georges ClouzotClaude RenoirA filmed record of Pablo Picasso painting numerous canvases for the camera, allowing us to see his creative process at work.
- DirectorKeith FultonLouis PepeStarsTerry GilliamJohnny DeppJeff BridgesTerry Gilliam's doomed attempt to get his film, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018), off the ground.
- DirectorVincente MinnelliGeorge CukorStarsKirk DouglasAnthony QuinnJames DonaldThe life of brilliant but tortured artist Vincent van Gogh.
- 1985– 1hTV-147.9 (121)TV EpisodeDirectorMel StuartStarsStockard ChanningMan RayMan Ray, the master of experimental and fashion photography was also a painter, a filmmaker, a poet, an essayist, a philosopher, and a leader of American modernism. Known for documenting the cultural elite living in France.
- DirectorMatthew AkersJeff DupreStarsMarina AbramovicUlayKlaus BiesenbachA documentary that follows the Serbian performance artist as she prepares for a retrospective of her work at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
- DirectorLaurent TirardStarsRomain DurisFabrice LuchiniLaura MoranteTo satisfy his creditors, a witty actor reinvents himself as a satirical playwright, with uproarious, yet bittersweet, results.
- DirectorRichard GoldgewichtStarsAndrew AblesonJulian BarryRichard BenjaminA blend of documentary and animation tributing the life and work of legendary film-title designer Pablo Ferro.
- DirectorSteven SebringStarsPatti SmithLenny KayeOliver RayAn intimate portrait of poet, painter, musician and singer Patti Smith that mirrors the essence of the artist herself.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsPina BauschRegina AdventoMalou AiraudoA tribute to the late German choreographer Pina Bausch, as her dancers perform her most famous creations.
- DirectorThomas RiedelsheimerStarsAndy GoldsworthyAnna GoldsworthyHolly GoldsworthyPortrait of Andy Goldsworthy, an artist whose specialty is ephemeral sculptures made from elements of nature.
- 1985– 1h 23mPG-137.1 (1.6K)TV Episode71MetascoreDirectorSydney PollackStarsFrank GehrySydney PollackJulian SchnabelA look at the life and work of the renown architect.
- DirectorMartin ProvostStarsYolande MoreauUlrich TukurAnne BennentIn 1912 German collector Wilhelm Uhde rents a flat in Senlis to write and take a break from Parisian life. He hires a 48-year old cleaning lady, Séraphine. Some time later, he notices a small painting on wood at a local notable home.
- DirectorDon ArgottStarsJulian BondDavid D'ArcyRichard FeigenDocumentary that follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' 25 billion dollar collection of modern and post-impressionist art.
- DirectorLinda HattendorfStarsBob BruckJess EspinosaLinda HattendorfDocumentary about red-beret-ed Jimmy Mirikitani, a feisty painter working and living on the street, near the World Trade Center, when 9/11 devastates the neighborhood. A nearby film editor, Linda Hattendorf, persuades elderly Jimmy to move in with her, while seeking a permanent home for him. The young woman delves into the California-born, Japan-raised artist's unique life which developed his resilient personality, and fuels his 2 main subjects: cats and internment camps. The editor films Jimmy's remarkable journey back into his incredible past.
- DirectorMorgan NevilleStarsEve BabitzJohn BaldessariLarry BellHow LA Learned to Love Modern Art. A lesson in how a few renegade artists built an art scene from scratch.
- DirectorMichele EmmerStarsM.C. EscherExplores the life and work of the Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher.
- DirectorRonald NeameStarsAlec GuinnessKay WalshRenee HoustonAn ill-behaved, lovably scruffy painter, Gulley Jimson, searches for a perfect canvas, determined to let nothing come between himself and the realization of his exalted vision.
- DirectorAmy StechlerStarsHeinz BerggruenEstela de BassagodaLila DownsA documentary feature about the life of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
- DirectorSusan Warms DryfoosStarsJulie AndrewsLauren BacallCarol ChanningThe childhood, adolescence, and incredible adult years of Al Hirshfeld, celebrated creator of thousands of line drawings of famous people - many in the entertainment industry - over a span of more than sixty years.
- DirectorJustine NaganCharting the intersection between rural America and contemporary graphic design.
- DirectorAndrei ZagdanskyStarsKevin ClarkeNorton DodgeHerbert H. KliegermanVasya Sitnikov was officially insane, a man without a passport, in and out of mental institutions, yet he was the key figure of the nonconformist art movement in the Soviet Union. He left behind astonishing works of art, yet he remains a compelling, controversial mystery. Why does his legend still confound those who knew him?
- DirectorPaul CoxStarsJohn HurtMarika RiveraGabriella TrsekThis documentary, on the life of artist Vincent Van Gogh, is told through his letters to his brother Theo, from 1872 until his tragic death. We gain first hand insight into the man, his motivations, and his humanity.
- DirectorLucy WalkerKaren HarleyJoão JardimStarsVik MunizOn the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro is Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest landfill, where men and women sift through garbage for a living. Artist Vik Muniz produces portraits of the workers and learns about their lives.
- DirectorOndi TimonerStarsJosh HarrisTom HarrisCarlos AlvarezA documentary focusing on the life of dot-com entrepreneur Josh Harris, and his exploits over the last decade.
- DirectorPeter RosenStarsJohn ChamberlainIvan KarpGeorge LoisMetropolitan Museum of Art curator Henry Geldzahler reflects on the 1960s pop art scene in New York.
- DirectorHarry MosesStarsTeri HortonTod M. VolpeBen HellerIn this documentary, veteran filmmaker Harry Moses exposes the controversy in the world of high priced artwork. He paints a vivid picture of how art is bought and sold in America.
- DirectorMegumi SasakiStarsPaula AntebiWill BarnetRobert BarryHerb and Dorothy Vogel redefine what it means to be an art collector.
- DirectorAi Weiwei
- DirectorJason CohnBill JerseyStarsCharles EamesRay EamesJames FrancoThe relationship between Charles Eames and his wife Ray ignited a burst of design ingenuity whose impact on the world can still be felt over half a century later.
- DirectorPeter WestStarsDale ChihulyRichard RoyalFlora MaceDale Chihuly reunites with some of the world's best glassblowers who have been important in the development of many of his most well known series.
- DirectorT.W. TimreckStarsDaniel GerrollRichard HamiltonDavid StrathairnWhen he was born in 1822, Frederick Law Olmsted's future profession of landscape architect did not yet exist in America. By the end of the 19th century, however, Olmsted had created hundreds of parks throughout the United States, thus defining landscape design for the country. This film documents the creation of Olmsted's first major work, New York City's Central Park, in 1858. The project was fraught with obstacles - political, financial, and topographical - yet the completed park serves as a testament to Olmsted's unique and pioneering vision. The glory of Olmsted's talent is that he was able to transform acres of raw land into natural art forms for all people to enjoy and appreciate in their own way. Told in the dramatic portrait style developed by award-winning director T. W. Timreck, this film blends documentary elements and dramatization, based on the words of the artist and his contemporaries.
- DirectorJeremy WhelehanStarsKevin SpaceyMaureen AndermanStephen Lee AndersonKevin Spacey, Sam Mendes and the Bridge Project Company reveal some of the most intimate moments behind the scenes of their staging of Richard III.
- DirectorCarroll MooreStarsSteve MartinJudith A. BarterAvis BermanEdward Hopper (1882 - 1967) is one of the best known and most admired of American artists. He found poetry in quiet, private moments set in unexceptional places, such as anonymous hotel rooms, diners (Nighthawks), gas stations, and traditional houses. Within these urban or small-town spaces, Hopper created iconic images of American life that present us with the possibility of narrative, but ultimately remain enigmatic. Rather than depict a specific story, they suggest a universal, shared experience. This film traces Hopper's varied influences, from French impressionism to the gangster films of the 1930s. The documentary uses archival photos and film, specially shot footage of locations painted by Hopper in New York and the New England coast, and interviews with artists Eric Fischl and Red Grooms, scholars, and curators. Narrated by Steve Martin
- DirectorJames A. EdgarStarsJason RobardsA documentary about the New York Public Library, including the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and the Schomberg Center in Harlem.
- DirectorStefan HauptStarsJordi Bonet i ArmengolEtsuro SotooAnna HuberThe Sagrada Família in Barcelona is a unique and fascinating building project by a brilliant, formerly controversial genius, Antoni Gaudi, with an army of workers, a history with many highs and lows and a myriad of questions raised. The biography of the edifice, which has been under construction since 1882 and is about half completed today, is the starting point for Stefan Haupt's film SAGRADA, el misteri de la creacio.
- DirectorRoger ShermanStarsAlexander CalderTovah FeldshuhIn a time of constant artistic upheaval, Alexander Calder's aesthetic revolution concerned itself with a somewhat taboo topic in the art world - fun.
- DirectorJohn MaloofCharlie SiskelStarsVivian MaierJohn MaloofDaniel ArnaudA documentary on the late Vivian Maier, a nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs earned her a posthumous reputation as one of the most accomplished street photographers.
- DirectorChris TeerinkSol LeWitt, one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, changed art forever.
- DirectorSteve JamesStarsRoger EbertChaz EbertGene SiskelThe life and career of the renowned film critic and social commentator, Roger Ebert.
- DirectorLaura ArchibaldStarsSusan SarandonHappy TraumTom BernadinExplores the music scene in Greenwich Village, New York in the 60's and early 70's. The film highlights some of the finest singer/songwriters of the day.
- DirectorGreg 'Freddy' CamalierStarsRick HallAretha FranklinKeith RichardsA documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", and "When a Man Loves a Woman".
- DirectorDenny TedescoStarsBrian WilsonDick ClarkCherA celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.
- DirectorAlan RavenscroftStarsRoberta BayleyAndrew BoltonClem BurkeThrough interviews with members of the band and their producer, revisit the story behind the making of Blondie's album "Parallel Lines".
- DirectorDes DoyleStarsJ.J. AbramsKristen BellDavid BoreanazA documentary that explores the world of U.S. television showrunners and the creative forces aligned around them.
- DirectorPatrick MeaneyStarsNeil GaimanCat MihosJill ThompsonNeil Gaiman (author of 'American Gods,' 'Coraline,' 'Stardust,' and many more) discusses how he became one of the world's most popular fantasy writers.
- DirectorFran StrineStarsJohn 5Kenny AronoffCorey BritzA documentary film about session and touring musicians that are hired by well established and famous bands and artists like Metallica, KISS, and Billy Joel. These hired guns may not be household names, but are still masters of their craft.
- DirectorThorsten SchütteStarsFrank ZappaSteve AllenAngelAn in-depth look at the life and work of avant-garde musician, Frank Zappa.
- DirectorJeff OppenheimStarsJeff OppenheimRobert K. WittmanThe foundation of today's multi-billion dollar art market still reverberates with the beautiful lies of one of the most prolific art forgers of the last century.
- This episode page reflects the reshowing of the original title Basquiat: Rage to Riches (2017) as part of the American Masters Series
- DirectorKristi ZeaStarsMeryl StreepJoAnne AkalaitisJennifer BartlettA determined single mother, with nothing but guts and vision, breaks through notorious art world barriers to become one of the preeminent painters of our time.
- DirectorSonia AndersonStarsDavid BowieAngie BowieBreege CollinsCombining footage from interviews with the late great David Bowie and contributions from those who knew him personally, this documentary celebrates the illustrious life of one of the greatest artists to ever grace the stage.
- StarsGail Watson
- DirectorJohn ScheinfeldStarsDenzel WashingtonReggie WorkmanRavi ColtraneAn exploration of the global power and impact of the music of John Coltrane where the passions, experiences and forces that shaped his life and revolutionary sounds are revealed.
- DirectorJames HaleStarsJarvis CockerDavid BowieMarc AlmondBoth a visual flashback and a telling of the life and birth of the alter ego that was David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust.
- 1985– 1h 54mNot Rated7.4 (3.3K)TV Episode76MetascoreDirectorStanley NelsonStarsCarl LumblyMiles DavisReginald PettyMusicians, scholars, family and friends reflect on the life of jazzer Miles Davis to reveal the man behind the legend. Full access to Davis' estate provides rare footage and photos, outtakes from recording sessions and new interviews.
- DirectorD.W. YoungStarsParker PoseyFran LebowitzGay TaleseA behind-the-scenes look at the New York rare book world.
- StarsPeter CoyoteJeff DanielsEdna O'BrienExplore the painstaking process through which Hemingway created some of the most important works of fiction in American letters.
- DirectorJason Scott SadofskyStarsErnest AdamsScott AdamsHollywood AndersonWith limited sound, simple graphics, and tiny amounts of computing power, the first games on home computers would hardly raise an eyebrow in the modern era of photorealism and surround sound. In a world of Quake, Half-Life and Halo, it is expected that a successful game must be loud, fast, and full of blazing life-like action. But in the early 1980s, an entire industry rose over the telling of tales, the solving of intricate puzzles and the art of writing. Like living books, these games described fantastic worlds to their readers, and then invited them to live within them. They were called "computer adventure games", and they used the most powerful graphics processor in the world: the human mind. Rising from side projects at universities and engineering companies, adventure games would describe a place, and then ask what to do next. They presented puzzles, tricks and traps to be overcome. They were filled with suspense, humor and sadness. And they offered a unique type of joy as players discovered how to negotiate the obstacles and think their way to victory. These players have carried their memories of these text adventures to the modern day, and a whole new generation of authors have taken up the torch to present a new set of places to explore. Get Lamp is a documentary that will tell the story of the creation of these incredible games, in the words of the people who made them.
- DirectorAndrew SlaterStarsLou AdlerFiona AppleThe Beach BoysA look at the roots of the historic music scene in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon featuring the music of iconic groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas and the Papas.
- DirectorMartin R. SmithStarsPete TownshendRichard BarnesRoger DaltreyThe Who's seminal double album "Tommy", released in 1969, is a milestone in rock history. It revitalised the band's career and established Pete Townshend as a composer and Roger Daltrey as one of rock's foremost frontmen. The first album to be overtly billed as a "rock opera", "Tommy" has gone on to sell over 20 million copies around the world and has been reimagined as both a film by Ken Russell in the mid-seventies and a touring stage production in the early nineties. This new film explores the background, creation and impact of "Tommy" through new interviews with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, archive interviews with the late John Entwistle, and contributions from engineer Bob Pridden, artwork creator Mike McInnerney plus others involved in the creation of the album and journalists who assess the album's historic and cultural impact.
- DirectorVictor KanefskyStarsRichard ArmstrongDavid CenedellaJoan CenedellaWhat is art and how does it relate to society? Is its value determined by its popularity or originality? Is the goal profit or expressing one's personal vision? These are some of the questions raised as we follow fiercely independent New York artist Robert Cenedella in his artistic journey through decades of struggling for creative expression. A student, protégé and friend of German artist George Grosz, Cenedella is now passing on the legacy of Grosz's approach to art, in the very same room where Grosz taught. In portraying Cenedella's determination to buck the system of what's popular while critiquing that popularity in his attempt to turn the art world upside down, ART BASTARD is a funny, touching, and insightful look inside the maverick mind of a true original.
- DirectorLance BangsSpike JonzeStarsLance BangsLynn CaponeraJames GandolfiniA loving look at one of the most cherished and controversial figures in children's literature, Maurice Sendak. In this deeply moving tribute, spend time with the man who spoke to children through his stories and illustrations in a way no one else could.