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Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (2007)

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16 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Beautiful, Brilliant, 7 September 2007

Author: davidjamesstokes from Canada

Living in Toronto, once a year I get the benefit of having the world's largest film festival come to my doorstep. Tonight I was lucky enough to be in the audience for the first screening of Scott Hicks' new biographical movie on composer Philip Glass. I did not know what to expect from this film, namely because I was only vaguely familiar with Glass' work and also because I was skeptical that a movie about a minimalist composer would be either entertaining or fascinating. But my initial doubts were completely wrong - the movie blew me away. The movie was very profound, extremely interesting, and surprisingly funny - not to forget full of beautiful music (this movie has introduced me to the work of this wonderful composer who I would otherwise have never explored). The cinematography was also excellent - far beyond what you get in the usual documentary. Hicks' breakdown of Glass' life into 12 distinct stages was the perfect way to show him at his different mental states. Near the start of the movie, Hicks shows footage of Glass that you (or at least those who are not Glass followers)originally think has nothing to do with his music. Yet as the movie goes on, and you reach deeper and deeper within Glass'life and his head, you realize that what the other footage is showing is key to understanding Glass because it makes up an essential part of Glass' musical origins/motivations. The movie begins slowly but builds into a powerful crescendo.

Glass' life is not only interesting due to his line of work, for he paints a good picture of how he engages in a complex artistic process. His comments on music and art are original and very worthwhile; even if you have no interest in Glass' music, his comments on his process are worthwhile for anyone interested in art of any sort. This is a movie worth seeing.

See This Movie, 7 April 2008

Author: joshie-bee from United States

I am not a fan of documentaries and having no idea who Philip Glass was nor where to find the cinema I arrived unprejudiced and just on time at the theatre.

Scott Hicks' ability to capture very emotional moments ("what is your computer password?...it's FRANKIE") and to bond film with music ("bababababababa") combined with superb editing left a full house stunned with impressions at the end of the movie. The movie, like a mosaic, became more and more compelling with every act and piece of information added. Personally, the message that was most moving was the thought of a musical genius, flamboyant and eccentric at times, loving and caring at heart, unable to communicate deeper emotions to his loved ones, somewhat isolated through his talent in a 21st century environment...

Thank you Mr. Hicks for creating an outstanding movie that inspires people to think!

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