Memorable, crazy movie

Instant Favorite.

best movie i've ever seen.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

"How do you deal with such idiotic criticism?"(Untitled) is an absurd, entertaining mixture of a comedy, a romantic comedy, a drama, and a satire of the New York art scene (and some modern art in general, I suppose). It caught my eye because of the presence of Marley Shelton and Lucy Punch, two underrated and really hot actresses that I make a habit of checking out in every movie I can, but it turned out to be a worthwhile movie, beyond their presence.The two main characters are Adrian (Adam Goldberg), a bohemian experimental musician (think kicking buckets and ripping paper), and Madeline (Marley Shelton), a gallery owner who sells the commercial work of Adrian's brother to keep her gallery open, while only allowing more avant-garde pieces to be shown there. Madeline finds herself drawn to Adrian's unconventional sensibilities, but conflict eventually arises between the two when Madeline's eccentric clients don't meet Adrian's ideas of what art should be. (Untitled) is funniest when showcasing the "artwork" of its supporting characters, including Ray Park as an artist who uses taxidermy in a unique way, and Zak Orth in a small but absolutely scene-stealing role. I think you probably have to be familiar with, or at least aware of, the modern art scene to see the appeal of (Untitled). It's not a hard film to get your head around, or anything like that, but it does get its humor from situations and jokes that may not have appeal for everyone. I thought it was quite amusing, though, and I recommend that anyone who finds the idea interesting, gives it a try.

I will spare you from a detail narration of this film, you can read this elsewhere, and simply address what I found useful in it. As a paying job, Adrian, an aspiring composer, who we saw creating music (or noise) with buckets, paper and other quotidian materials, plays at the restaurant a beautiful Chopin's piece while the restaurant patrons talk on the phone and completely ignore the music. His execution is virtuosic and lends credibility to his skill as a musician. Suddenly, he start playing cacophonous and violent piece, beating on piano. Without a specific frame of reference it is impossible to tell whether this is a noise or a music. People start paying attention and most of them (if not all) are turning angry. Adrian succeeded to annoy everyone which is more than what he could do with Chopin. Previously when asked what is noise and what is music Adrian explains that even Beethoven may be a noise in certain circumstances. From this perspective, art is what moves us - gives us energy, motivates us and calls to action. Art must be new. If we like what we see or hear - this is probably not art. If it pleases us, it is most certainly already became familiar and no longer new.Now, I do not praise Adrian's music, for this I have very little information to make an informed judgment, but I do trust Madeleine's taste and believe she is right to recognize him as an original. I also see him participating in the performance of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire and hear him speaking about atonal music, etc. He also prepared a la John Cage silent piece, executed at the end, as a joke. All this tells me that he is a credible musician searching for his unique and authentic way in art. Musical arts gets more serious treatment in the film because of David Lang's expert contribution. Another selected 'artist', a conceptual artist, Monroe, does not have the credibility and appears to be rather autistic and emotionally disturbed. Madeleine seams to believe in him, but may be mistaken. Perhaps her attitude toward art as being solely anti-commercial activity, is incorrect. Art defies formulas and needs to be reevaluated every time anew. DiNapoli and Parker showed their attitude toward what they consider to be art and what is a heck job. There are many interesting subplots that I found stimulating. Who called this film a comedy? - this is serious film about serious matters. I enjoyed it very much. Although the film's subject matter is not particularly new, it nevertheless is important and rarely receive any cinematographic treatment. In the film finale, when a man approaches Adrian and says: "Your art changed my life," this is an ultimate justification of artist's social persona. But for all of us, in our intimate internal being, there are things we do because we simply have to, without any hope nor desire for external approval, we do them as a form of spiritual survival.

This is very good work.While the core of the story; what art, entertainment, noise - not only in the audible sense - or meaning itself is, is entirely up to your own interpretation. And that is a very good thing indeed.Does it take contemporary art seriously? It sure does, but it also reflect, very self-ironically, on the ridicule just as much. One of art's basic elements is that it not necessarily can be defined rationally, which makes it on one hand free, and on the other, especially with experimental art, hard to draw the line between utter nonsense, simple expression and real craftsmanship. For me it was the later that was always a mayor prerequisite to define something as art. If there is no knowledge, no skill, no work involved, I do not consider it art. I might still consider it beautiful, or moving, or aesthetic. But it is the intend to create, to realize the urge, vision or thought. At least that is my own personal opinion. This movie shows excellent craftsmanship. Especially because the movie becomes a holistic look at art by mimicking much of the plot in its own form of expression. Sadly, so it seems, the dramaturgy of the movie was a little confined. According to the more experimental, or even eccentric nature of the portrayed art, one would have suspected more experimental lighting, camera and a more (forgive me) "artsy" movie as a whole; just a tad more experimental. Put aside the plot and this movie could just as well pass as commercial. But this may also be part of the reflection on the actual plot and of art itself.It reminded me of something Picasso once said - I am paraphrasing: "There are two kind of people interested in art, those who think they understand it and may even be willing to buy a drawing on a napkin and those who just appreciate it. We eat because of the first and we work because of the later."The sound design was incredibly well done and the conceptual compositions of David Lang adds another well placed layer onto this funny, multidimensional and artistic look at art. Very well done!

Saw untitled @ the Heidelberg-Mannheim Film Festival, where it won the Juror Award.having watched "Die Millionenblase(German)", "The Bubble" (2008, 90min) by Lewis Ben only two words come to my mind: Damien Hirst...Great movie, great cast, great script & loved the editing.Adam Goldberg shines in his role portraying a musician torn between art & commerce...Loved the very special sense of humor as well as the topic that today is even more current than a few years back.Would have liked a character showing/portraying the infamous art dealer scene...