The Impressionists
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Movie Reviews of The Impressionists
Movie Review: A Thing of Beauty
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't know this 2006 BBC mini-series existed until I kept seeing clips from it in Youtube vids featuring actor Richard Armitage. Since RA looked really hot and as I have an Art History degree it seemed like a natural. It was an entrancing three hours!
It is a quasi-documentary centered around several of the founders of the Impressionist movement-Manet, Renoir, Degas, Bazille, Cezanne, etc. It is told from the perspective of an aged Monet who is portrayed in flashback by Armitage. Beginning in 1866 when several of them are in art school together, it follows the remainder of their lives. Some viewers may have quibbles with omissions, artistic license, etc., however, I found it fascinating, informative and visually stunning. It is an interesting perspective to realize there was a time when Impressionism was seen as avant garde and even ugly.
The excellent cinematography allows a visual experience of the qualities the Impressionists were trying to convey and there are wonderful dissolves from the scenes into the actual paintings. The costumes are impeccable as most of them were taken from the clothing in the paintings. Monet's charming family life and Giverny are beautifully portrayed.
The actors are all excellent but Armitage shines in his role as Claude Monet *the blue of his painting smock matches his eyes*. The scenes of him conveying his joy in the qualities of smoke, fog and dappled sunshine really should open the viewers eyes to the simple beauty in our world. I found his compulsive desire to convey the wonders of color, even while sketching the face of his dying wife, to be very moving. It is a bit macabre but I know that Diego Riviera sketched the bone structure of the newly cremated body of Frieda Kahlo before she slowly dissolved into ash. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the artist.
Movie Review: This Was Fabulous!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have ever wondered about the beautiful artistry of Monet's work, his life, devotion to canvas, friends, family, I highly recommend seeing these DVDs. These are two discs, based on records, diaries, etc., of The Impressionistic Movement. One cannot escape the passion of Monet's `oneness' with all aspects of nature. Monet's work captures his devotion and reverence for the flow of water, as well as streams of light. The canvases shown are breathtaking.
These two DVDs are alive with Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Bazile, Cezanne, and others. They are portrayed not as rivals but rather as co-founders of Impressionism. The film demonstrates their alliance, how they would meet at a local café, etc. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that café.
To state that everything about these DVDs will awaken your senses is to underrate the affect they had on me. A bonus is offered at the end of the second DVD. In it, one may not only see canvases that are gorgeous beyond description but hear parts of Berlioz's Requiem, Gluck, and others. These are quite unbelievable. They mesmerize. This is informative, as well as alive with the works of masters. It will speak to many. Very highly recommended.
Movie Review: The Impressionists
Summary: 5 Stars
VERY GOOD! EXCELLENT!!! The special is a 3 part 2 DVD set of the Impressionts era during set date of the late 1870's' to as early 1900's. This video special to me as a drama, and biography, and documentary all roll into one special, I very much recommend to Art students, if your a art history buff, get this special, and especially to photographers that do alot of landscape, and still life photography at either Film, and Digital GET IT. You can do alot of both study the lighting, and color, and design, and also previsualize your scenery. I first seen this special on our PBS Channel in San Francisco, all 3 parts in one night, and I can say that this was the most very good special than watching Sue Orman (Yech). The actors that protrayed the Impressionists artist really played their parts to the bone. And the actor Julian Glover playing older Monet, Please someone give him a Emmy he deserved it. The whole cast, and production deserved an award for the best movie bio of the year. This will make watch the 3 part movie of Monet, and the 3 DVD is the life of Monet.Movie Review: This is a wonderful background to the art we love
Summary: 5 Stars
I really did not know what to expect when I bought this dvd. It really explores the whole impressionist movement from the beginning. It covers the artists: Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Bazille and Cezanne. These artists were all interconnected with one another and suffered great rejection from the art establishment for years. I was really engrossed in the personal stories of each artist from youth to the end of their lives. The stories show how some of the paintings were created and at the end of the scenes, the genuine paintings were displayed. I am an artist myself and particularly enjoyed seeing this. With genius usually comes oddity and you will not be disappointed. Besides the art history lesson, the series also demonstrates that reaching for one's dreams, even in the face of adversity, pays off. Touching story from which I learned a great deal.Movie Review: Inspiration and history
Summary: 5 Stars
I planned on watching this series over a long weekend, but after seeing the first episode..I was up until 3am and watched it in all one sitting. Being a plein air artist myself, these guys are my heros and I was enthralled with their creativity and determination to "make it" in the art world. Painting was their profession, more than that, their love. This series SHOWED THAT. I really loved the showings of the real paintings that the scenes represented. The actors were superb, and obviously researched painters and their characters. I have read countless books on these very artists, and the actors/actresses portrayed their lives in truth--or as much truth as we can determine 100+ years ago. I would recommend this series to anyone that has an interest in the lives of these artists.