Search - Georgia O'Keeffe on DVD

A Documentary to Own

Karl E. Weaver | California, USA | 05/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a made-for-TV movie which has now been released by Sony Pictures on DVD in 2010. It won multiple awards as a TV performance. Joan Allen BECOMES Georgia O'Keefe, the way George Scott became General Patton--I think now I will always see her as Georgia O'Keefe. Jeremy Irons gives a great performance (as usual) as her much older husband, Alfred Stieglitz. I have always admired Georgia O'Keefe but did not know details of her life until I watched this documentary. It's a great look at her development as an artist, her personality, and her marriage. Stieglitz was a pioneer of American photography, and his last great photographs seem to be his series of photographs of O'Keefe.

The film is 1.5 hours long. Subtitles are available in multiple languages and also (unusual for a TV-to-DVD production) there are previews of other films (most of them not so well-matched to this documentary) and a short "making of" special feature. The film is not rated but if it were, it would probably rate a PG-13 for occasional partially-nude scenes.

The cinematography is beautiful, the acting is high-quality, the dialog is good and of course, the paintings are beautiful: I just wish there had been even more examples of her art in the movie. If you're interested in Georgia O'Keefe in the slightest, you will enjoy this film. I recommend it."

An amazing, inspiring film!

Rita Reader | 05/09/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is a beautiful homage to Georigia O'Keefe. Even if you are not familiar with her paintings, it will move you in many ways. Joan Allen's performance cannot be overstated, it was as if she literally slipped inside this talented woman in a way that is almost scary. The art can bring tears to your eyes, and I must also give a shout out to Tyne Daly. She fills all her roles with such clarity that there is no such thing as a small part when she embodies it. Jeremy Irons is once again accomplished as the philandering husband/art dealer who is so selfish he cannot understand why he cannot have his cake and eat it too. The scene where she stands up to him when he tries to take credit for her talent made me want to stand up and cheer. Best of all, if you are not familiar with O'Keeffe's work, it will make you want to research and learn. What more can a film such as this accomplish?"

Complex Strange Life, Incredible Art, Well Made Movie

mk | parker, CO United States | 05/12/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, something on Georgia O'Keefe, a very good TV production, but it left a sour taste in my mouth. A bio emphasizing O'Keefe and Stieglitz(got the spelling right) more than about her art or her beloved time in New Mexico. It does contain both, but, I think, in painfully lacking quantities.



Summary: Unknown, turn of the century, artist Georgia O'Keefe meets artsy, philandering, much older and married Alfred Stieglist who heavily promotes her to eventual fame and a fiery romance. He, of course, cheats, mistreats and manipulates her in a self-centered, petulant, controlling way. But she loves him, and spends the movie dealing with that while trying to discover her place in art.



We've travelled the last 3 years to the Santa Fe/Taos area; hit the museums, enjoyed her artwork immensely; this year we visited Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch, saw her house there. I wish they would have included more on that aspect of her life.



The actors are very good. Jeremy Irons is superb, brilliant! Joan Allen, whom my wife immediately said, "She's too old!"(true, O'Keefe met Stieglitz when she was 29, Allen is 53-but such is Hollywood) does a fine job showing pain and compassion. Tyne Daly shines as her friend, but as much of the cast was way under-utilized. This story needed desperately to be a mini-series, only 89 minutes?



Researching their lives, the script appears, I would say, about 90% accurate. There are some major points that the filmmakers, as they often do, took liberties with the truth. One example, in the movie she shows shock at him exhibiting his private nude photos of her, but what I've read, she actually knew about it, and they both agreed to just leave her name off the prints.



It is, of course, true that Stieglitz was quite an accomplished photographer and definitely a putz; moreover, it is debatable whether she would have became famous without him. I believe so; her art is just too amazing even if she had diasappeared to Texas! Plus, her part in the relationship was quite odd and not necessarily so innocent or shocked as portrayed in the movie. Her and her husband were quite bohemian and so were their other relationships; however, after Stieglitz' death, she pretty much told his long time mistress(the one that hung on) to get lost, took over his gallery proclaiming that the whole thing had been "disgusting". Review both of their biographies through Wikipedia.



Prefer less about New York or change the title to "O'Keefe and Stieglitz", more on her and her life of discovery and painting in New Mexico. We didn't find this a love story unless one puts pathological before it. Well made but not satisfying. 3-1/2 stars, give it 4 for watching Irons at work."

O'Keeffe would have liked Joan and Jeremy

charlos | 07/05/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One has to admire the effort to do this right on a TV budget.

Worked on this project and all were totally committed from stand-in to star.

Enjoy it."