(UNTITLED)
“Untitled” here refers to a certain type of contemporary, conceptual art work that, depending on your judgment may or may not be a legitimate work of art. This clever film lovingly pokes fun at some big questions about art, culture and commerce in the center of art, culture and commerce: Chelsea, downtown, westside, New York City.
Adrian Jacobs (Adam Goldberg) is the sort of contemporary, pure experimental composer who reveres the 12-tone approach of Arnold Shoenberg, and who declares, in one scene, that even Bach is just noise if you don’t want to listen to it. The chronically bitter Adrian has the misfortune of having an artistically banal but commercially successfully brother, Josh (Eon Bailey) who paints canvases that fill the walls of hotels and doctor’s offices. Josh is represented by gallery owner Madeleine (Marley Shelton), a pulled together, utlra-fashionable, high blond who is so passionate about non-commercial art that she keeps Josh’s work in the back, refusing to show it, even though it’s those sales that keep the gallery’s doors open. When Madeleine attends one of Adrian’s sparsely attended concerts, which includes, among other instruments, an aluminum bucket as well as just the mouthpiece of a clarinet, she is smitten.
The film is co-written and directed by Jonathan Parker who happens to be a serious art collector and so despite the examples referenced above, the film does not ridicule or dismiss of the contemporary art scene. Both Adrian and Madeleine have passionate as well as intellectually coherent arguments in support of their artistic visions. At the same time we are invited to laugh, if we so choose, at some of the over the edge absurdities. There is Ray Barko (Vinnie Jones) the artist who creates strange works using taxidermy and Madeleine’s newest discovery uses pushpins and post-its as vehicles for his artistic impulses.
As between contemporary art and music, the film may be slightly more sympathetic toward the plight of the musician than the painter. After all, in the real world there is more much more interest in collecting concrete things than in simply listening to challenging music. Such is the case with Porter Canby (Zak Orth), an internet millionaire whose penthouse is stuffed to the gills with pieces specially selected for him by Madeleine, even though it’s not entirely clear what is motives are: investment, social cache, meeting cute girls. Porter does commission a piece and it is the music throughout the film, composed by Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lang, which makes Adrian’s case for him. We are used to music being pleasant, often in the background meant to soothe, but when we are called in to pay attention, this experimental approach is very often more interesting, challenging. It is also worth noting that all of the art and music in the film was created especially for it.
In the end it all seems to work itself out: everyone continuing in their respective roles. Artists keep on painting, musicians composing bitterly resenting their lack of recognition and brokers keep the greasing the wheels of commerce. A funny and accurate slice of New York City life.
(Untitled) opens October 23, 2009.
Directed by Jonathan Parker; written by Jonathan Parker and Catherine Di Napoli: produced by Andreas Olavarria: Director of Photography Svetlana Cvetko; music by David Lang; sound designer, Richard Beggs; production designer, David L. Snyder. Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Running time: 96 minutes.
With: Adam Goldberg (Adrian Jacobs); Marley Shelton (Madeleine Gray); Eion Bailey (Josh Jacobs); Lucy Punch (The Clarinet); Vinnie Jones (Ray Barko); Zak Orth (Porter Canby); and Ptolemy Slocum (Monroe).
