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In July 2005, Scott Hicks started shooting a documentary about the composer Philip Glass to celebrate his 70th anniversary in 2007. Over the next 18 months, Hicks followed Philip across 3 continents from his annual ride on the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster, to the world premiere of his new opera in Germany and in performance with a didgeridoo virtuoso in Australia. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass working process, family life, spiritual teachers and long time collaborators, Hicks gives us a unique glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a surprising and complex man.The documentary is a remarkable portrait of one of the greatest - and a times controversial artists of this or any era. A 2 disc DVD with nearly two hours of additional material. DVD Special Features - 9 deleted scenes - 70 mins of performance footage - Director Commentary - Addittional interviews
Review
An entertaining film that will fascinate his admirers. Shine director makes another pianist accessible in this engaging documentary --Hollywood Reporter
Offers fresh insight into Glass's insatiable drive and pragmatic cosmology --Time Out New York
Admirers of Glass will adore this film, but it will also be embraced by anybody fascinated by the creative process. An engaging and beautiful film. --The Big Issue
Offers fresh insight into Glass's insatiable drive and pragmatic cosmology --Time Out New York
Admirers of Glass will adore this film, but it will also be embraced by anybody fascinated by the creative process. An engaging and beautiful film. --The Big Issue
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Above all other things this is a film to engage with emotionally. There's a little background detail about the cultural environment in which Philip Glass became a composer and there's an insight or two about how his wonderful music is created, but this film is so much more.
Philip Glass appears to be an uninhibited and honest man. He allows the camera to view his life with a startling intimacy. You see his family life and his most personal of relationships laid bare and you learn of the intellectual, spiritual and passionate drive responsible for the staggering music he has created. it is impossible to sit through this documentary without feeling humbled and in awe of the genius that is Philip Glass, and yet to feel an enormous empathy with the result of his expression.
If only there were film makers in Mozart's time!
Philip Glass appears to be an uninhibited and honest man. He allows the camera to view his life with a startling intimacy. You see his family life and his most personal of relationships laid bare and you learn of the intellectual, spiritual and passionate drive responsible for the staggering music he has created. it is impossible to sit through this documentary without feeling humbled and in awe of the genius that is Philip Glass, and yet to feel an enormous empathy with the result of his expression.
If only there were film makers in Mozart's time!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This beautifully shot feature length documentary from film director Scott ('Shine')Hicks is set to become the definitive potraite of the great American "Minimalist" composer Philip Glass. Interviewee's include Philips Wife, children, siblings, old friends such as Chuck Close and collaborators from Woody Allan to Martin Scorcese. In the twelve Chapters that this film is divided into very aspect of Philips life is covered, both past and present: from early childhood (including earliest musical memories and inspirations), to educational experiences at Chicago college and The Julliard School, to studying under Nadia Boulanger and Ravi Shankar, the origins and formation of the Philip Glass Ensemble, formative experiences in Paris and New York and even PG's religous beliefs and practices are filmed and discussed, it is a truely exaustive account of a life lived to the fullest.
The real revelation and delight of this film, however, is the personality of the man himself; engaging, warm, funny, open, candid, 'Down-to-Earth' and articulate with none of the pomposity, granduer or self-importance one imagines when the word 'Composer' is mentioned!He is the total antithesis of how you would imagine a composer of Philips stature to be. Once you have seen this film you feel as if you have made a new friend, thats how intimate a portraite it is.
Having first discovered Philips music through a late-night screening of 'Powaqqatsi'(still my favourite) it is a delight to see that films visionary director Godfrey(Koyaanisqatsi)Reggio included in this doc' and in the bonus interviews on the second disc in this collection. When will someone (please) make a feature length documentary about that fascinating man and his lifes work? He's a genius!
The second disc contains the three full 'unabridged' interviews with Philip which last for aprox' 1 hour 45 minutes (edited versions of which appear in the main feature) and bonus performances including: 'Dracula'(with Kronos Quartet), 'Metamorphosis'(solo piano), 'Orion'(Philip Glass Ensemble), and 'Einstein on the Beach'(rehearsal only!). This two disc set is surely a must buy for any serious admirer of Philip Glass' music.Highly recommended.
The real revelation and delight of this film, however, is the personality of the man himself; engaging, warm, funny, open, candid, 'Down-to-Earth' and articulate with none of the pomposity, granduer or self-importance one imagines when the word 'Composer' is mentioned!He is the total antithesis of how you would imagine a composer of Philips stature to be. Once you have seen this film you feel as if you have made a new friend, thats how intimate a portraite it is.
Having first discovered Philips music through a late-night screening of 'Powaqqatsi'(still my favourite) it is a delight to see that films visionary director Godfrey(Koyaanisqatsi)Reggio included in this doc' and in the bonus interviews on the second disc in this collection. When will someone (please) make a feature length documentary about that fascinating man and his lifes work? He's a genius!
The second disc contains the three full 'unabridged' interviews with Philip which last for aprox' 1 hour 45 minutes (edited versions of which appear in the main feature) and bonus performances including: 'Dracula'(with Kronos Quartet), 'Metamorphosis'(solo piano), 'Orion'(Philip Glass Ensemble), and 'Einstein on the Beach'(rehearsal only!). This two disc set is surely a must buy for any serious admirer of Philip Glass' music.Highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"If you don't like my music, then listen to something else," Philip Glass advises in this documentary. "I don't care."
I however do care, a lot. Glass is that rare sort of composer you can easily feel related to, although I can well imagine that many people get irritated by the repetiveness (I rather call it 'subtleties') of his work.
Having listened to his film scores, his string quartets, his first four symphonies and his compositions for solo cello and his collaboration with Ravi Shankar, I couldn't but become a fan of the man.
Purchasing the Scott Hicks documentary was therefore a logical thing to do, and I don't know if I expected a portrait of a genius (actually, I think I did), but what I got was a man who owes his success to hard work, who had to cope with silent opposition from his father, who has known tragedy and failure in his personal life, etc.
Does this make him less of an artist or less of a man? In my opinion, it doesn't. Scott Hicks has presented us a gifted musician who is not too conceited to admit that in spite of (or, because of) his fascination for beauty, he has known a fair amount of darkness as well. My only point of criticism is that sometimes Glass overdoes it.
There is nothing wrong with being of flesh and blood, but was it necessary to emphasize his 70-year-old youghtfulness by putting the man in a roller coaster and a go-kart?
I however do care, a lot. Glass is that rare sort of composer you can easily feel related to, although I can well imagine that many people get irritated by the repetiveness (I rather call it 'subtleties') of his work.
Having listened to his film scores, his string quartets, his first four symphonies and his compositions for solo cello and his collaboration with Ravi Shankar, I couldn't but become a fan of the man.
Purchasing the Scott Hicks documentary was therefore a logical thing to do, and I don't know if I expected a portrait of a genius (actually, I think I did), but what I got was a man who owes his success to hard work, who had to cope with silent opposition from his father, who has known tragedy and failure in his personal life, etc.
Does this make him less of an artist or less of a man? In my opinion, it doesn't. Scott Hicks has presented us a gifted musician who is not too conceited to admit that in spite of (or, because of) his fascination for beauty, he has known a fair amount of darkness as well. My only point of criticism is that sometimes Glass overdoes it.
There is nothing wrong with being of flesh and blood, but was it necessary to emphasize his 70-year-old youghtfulness by putting the man in a roller coaster and a go-kart?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Glass- Philip
This is a very interesting DVD. It reveals quite a lot about Glass that I didn't know before.He is a very complex character.
Published 1 month ago by Winter Trees
Outstanding documentary
A wonderfully structured, fascinating insight into the life and work of grand master Philip Glass. If it were a book, you wouldn't be able to put it down. Thoroughly recommended!
Published on 19 July 2009 by Mr. Robin Schroder
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