Sunday, February 20, 2022
Simon Schama's Power of Art
- Commentary: I've had this dvd series forever, since before my mother died. Yes, she saw it, and marveled at it, too, along with me. I can't imagine why I didn't enter it into the "catalog" I have here, but, perhaps, when it was on my mind, we simply watched it, yet again.
You'll notice that, instead of attaching a write-up from one of my usually favored reviewers to the title above, I've attached a review from an Amazon customer. That's for one of two reasons: either none of my favored reviewers commented on the series or those reviews were behind paywalls. Turns out, I'm okay with that. The Amazon customer review is informative, interesting, even provocative at times, and well written.
For that reason, I'm not adding much more about what either my mother or I thought, except to say both of us enjoyed the series enough to keep it by the dvd player so it was handy when we couldn't get interested in anything else.
The series is divided into eight segments, each focusing on one artist and chiefly devoted to one of that artist's masterpieces. Each segment also features entertaining vignettes in which the artist's words and circumstances are dramatised. Simon Schama is the Presenter, as himself, in each episode.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio - David with the Head of Goliath
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Popplewell Carravaggio Andrew Garfield Boy with Fruit Christine Bottomley Fillide Jalaal Hartley Onorio Longhi Massimiliano Davoli Italian Waiter Dave Hill St. Matthew Alex Noodle Corporal Iain Pearson Card Sharp
Gian Lorenzo Bernini – Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Actor Name Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andrea Gherpelli Bernini Meirko Ficca Bernini as Child Valerio Aprea Borromini Marco Furiozzi Luigi Bernini Laura Mercatali Bernini's Mother Elio Marconato Baldanucci Guilia Mombrelli Costanza Federica Santoro Saint Theresa
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn – The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis
Although there are at least two scenes in which actors are used in this segment, I could not find a list of acting credits available, not even on the disc program.
Jacques-Louis David – The Death of Marat
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Aubrey Wakeling David Oliver McLelland Young David Grégoire Bonnet Figaro Tim Frances Danton Tom Godwin Robespierre Nigel Nevinson Mayor Bailly Steven Matthews Marat Mercedes Grower Charlotte Corday
Joseph Mallord William Turner – The Slave Ship
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Joe Van Moyland Younger Turner Mark Hyde Older Turner Hollygale Millette Life Model Melanie Pappenheim Woman Singing Song Actor Role Actor Role Sandra Evans Mary Turner Adam Cole William Leighton Leitch
Vincent Willem van Gogh – Wheatfield with Crows
Actor Role Andy Serkis Vincent van Gogh
→ andy-serkis
Pablo Ruiz Picasso – Guernica
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Pep Cortés Picasso Anna Coll Miller Dora Maar Pep Brusca Gestapo Officer Pep Brusca Marie Therese
Mark Rothko – Black on Maroon
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Allan Corduner Mark Rothko Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Simon Quarterman Young Simon Schama
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film, which is also unusually and delightfully informative, with many links to articles about the individual pieces and artists.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by five different people, whom I won't bother to mention, although the Wikipedia article, linked just above, does.
Labels: andy-serkis
