Tim's Vermeer (2013)

Inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.

Director:

Teller

Writers:

Penn Jillette, Teller

Stars:

Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Martin Mull

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Jenison	...	Self
Penn Jillette	...	Self
Martin Mull	...	Self
Philip Steadman	...	Self (as Prof. Philip Steadman)
David Hockney	...	Self
Colin Blakemore	...	Self
Leslie Jenison	...	Self
Eric Armitage	...	Self
Daniëlle Lokin	...	Self (as Daniélle Lokin)
Bob Groothuis	...	Self
Ankie Bonnet	...	Self
Ruth Steadman	...	Self
Mike Hayes	...	Self
Nicola Vigini	...	Self
Graham Toms	...	Self

Storyline

Inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.

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Plot Keywords:

painting | inventor | geometry | video tester | woodworking | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

It took Tim Jenison five years to finish reproducing the Vermeer painting.

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Quotes

Tim Jenison: There's also this modern idea that art and technology must never meet - you know, you go to school for technology or you go to school for art, but never for both... And in the Golden Age, they were one and the same person.

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Connections

Referenced in Tim's View of Delft (unconfirmed)

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Soundtracks

Smoke On The Water
(uncredited)
Written by Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover amd Ritchie Blackmore
Performed by Tim Jenison

User Reviews

The whole film is kind of like explaining a magic trick!

'TIM'S VERMEER': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A documentary from the famous magician team Pen & Teller; focusing on their friend, inventor Tim Jenison, and his attempts to recreate (what he thinks was) the painting methods of the famous artist Johannes Vermeer. The film was directed by Teller, written by Penn Jillette and Teller and produced by Jillete and Farley Ziegler. It also features appearances by people like Martin Mull and David Hockney. I found it to be slow in places but still interesting enough.

Penn Jillette narrates the movie and Teller briefly appears in the film but of course doesn't speak (although I've heard he does in person, after their shows). Their documentary focuses on their friend Tim Jenison, who's an inventor and a big fan of the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. The movie is all about his theory on how Vermeer created his paintings (using special lighting and mirrors) and we observe the whole process of Jenison attempting to duplicate one of Vermeer's famous paintings (and confirm his theory).

The movie is only 80 minutes long but it seems a lot longer. It does get pretty dull and methodical as we watch the long detailed process of Jenison trying to recreate a work of Vermeer's. It is amusing though; especially with Jillette narrating (and doing multiple interviews) and Jenison is witty and funny to watch as well. The subject matter is interesting too (but maybe not enough to make a whole feature length movie out of). It's definitely educational though and well made (to a certain extent) and the whole film is kind of like explaining a magic trick (which is fitting coming from Pen & Teller of course).

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Sony Pictures Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English Dutch

Release Date:

17 January 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

Vermeer's Edge

Filming Locations:

Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$49,777, 2 February 2014

Gross USA:

$1,671,377

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,686,917

Company Credits

Production Co:

High Delft Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color