Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman

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Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman

2008

1h 23m

Documentary

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95%

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19 Reviews

80%

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250+ Ratings

In a documentary exploring the life and career of Julius Shulman -- widely regarded by experts as the greatest architectural photographer -- director Eric Bricker reveals the man who was influential in bringing to light the architectural modernist movement. Shulman's work plays a significant role in promoting the careers of legendary architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry. Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, the film also includes interviews from various architects and Shulman himself.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Bricker has adeptly assembled a seamless bricolage of vintage 20th-century footage together with material from a doc made in the earliest years of this century... along with nifty new animation and interview snippets that bridge ideas and fill gaps.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 25, 2020

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Shulman's still photographs are essential to any study of the style's vast popularization and commercialism.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 5, 2010

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

Precise as a blueprint, the film convinces you of Shulman's worth (and, by extension, of the architects he helped immortalize) without imparting the passion the filmmakers so obviously feel. It's functional, but it could have used a little more form.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 26, 2010

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Brandy McDonnell

The Oklahoman

Narrated with warmth and occasional wit by Dustin Hoffman, the film relates the artist's growing years and early love of photography.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 9, 2018

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Gerald Peary

Boston Phoenix

Eric Bricker's documentary celebration of America's most renowned architectural photographer is effusive in its praise, tame in its public-television-style execution.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 24, 2010

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Architectural photographer Julius Shulman was a pivotal figure in US popular culture. He's the one who taught Americans to love modernism.

Nov 11, 2009

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david f

While I loved the lavish attention paid to Shulman's most famous picture, the rest of the movie felt like a lot of padding on top of a short film about the role his photography played in modern architecture and the way we see Los Angels.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

As much about buildings as Shulman, this is unfortunately not a perfect film - some of the animated stills sequences are seriously weapons-grade PowerPoint nauseating, and the images are never given enough time on screen. It feels thrown together, like it would have benefited from more editing, but probably all the footage is better there without stylistic continuity than not there at all. In the end it is absolutely fascinating. Thankfully it was made, and exists. A bit of a gem.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

Aaaaaaaand I need to practice more. A wonderful documentary about an architectural photographer that made many an architect's career. Without Shulman there would be no modernism. His captivating photographs propelled the idea that form follows function more so than the architects. Highly recommended for fans of architecture, design, and photography. Now available on Netflix.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

Lovers or photography, architecture, and design must not miss this critical work documenting Julius Shulman's works documenting Modern Architecture through the lens.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

O doc mostra através de muitas fotografias, narrações e explicações do próprio fotógrafo um incrível registro sobre o Modernismo na arquitetura.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

Com sua câmera, Julius Shulman registrou as construções de alguns dos maiores arquitetos modernos e contemporaneos, incluindo Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner e Frank O. Gehry. As icônicas e belas imagens de Shulman retrataram o otimismo da arquitetura moderna na América do pós-guerra, impulsionando a apreciação e a popularização deste movimento nos Estados Unidos e no mundo. Dustin Hoffman narra a vida e a carreira deste importante fotógrafo de arquitetura.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Eric Bricker

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Narrator

Eric Bricker

Producer

Lisa Hughes

Executive Producer

Michelle Oliver

Executive Producer

Charlie Campagna

Original Music

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Synopsis

In a documentary exploring the life and career of Julius Shulman -- widely regarded by experts as the greatest architectural photographer -- director Eric Bricker reveals the man who was influential in bringing to light the architectural modernist movement. Shulman's work plays a significant role in promoting the careers of legendary architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry. Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, the film also includes interviews from various architects and Shulman himself.

Director: Eric Bricker
Producer: Eric Bricker
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $102.5K
Runtime: 1h 23m

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