Tim's Vermeer - The Cinema Club

Tim’s Vermeer

In select theaters
January 31^st 2014

pg13

80 minutes

English

90%

Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") manage to paint so photo-realistically -- 150 years before the invention of photography? The epic research project Jenison embarks on to test his theory is as extraordinary as what he discovers. Spanning eight years, Jenison's adventure takes him to Delft, Holland, where Vermeer painted his masterpieces,on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney,and even to Buckingham Palace to see a Vermeer masterpiece in the collection of the Queen.

starring...

Tim Jenison

Penn Jillette

Martin Mull

David Hockney

Philip Steadman

Director

Teller

Producer

Farley Ziegler

Producer

Penn Jillette

Editor

Patrick Sheffield

Director of Photography

Shane F. Kelly

Composer

Conrad Pope

95% on the CINEMETER

BOCA

82% - Dec 22, 2013

I rarely enjoy documentaries but loved this one!
Boca Raton Member

Fascinating! could see it again! well-narrated.
Boca Raton Member

Tim Jenison is a genius. Incredible and amazing experiment well captured in film.
Boca Raton Member

As a science teacher and a painter, this was a fascinating experience for me.
Boca Raton Member

Thought Jim was a genius to figure all this out and admired his patience and tenacity to reproduce this painting.
Boca Raton Member

Loved the music. Tied together well with the editing.
Boca Raton Member

99% - Dec 22, 2013

Great fun - Tim is a true original, as was Vermeer. It makes a strong case for the fusion of art and technology. It would be great to see Tim's Vermeer next to the original!
Washington, DC Member

The difference between eccentric and weird is $10 million! Thank heaven Tim Jenison had the '10' to pull off his obsession.
Washington, DC Member

Surprisingly engaging and humorous - score was fantastic and propelled the story. Genius!
Washington, DC Member

Spellbinding; mesmerizing; exciting in the implications of what this means for art history.
Washington, DC Member

Brilliant - loved it! It made me appreciate the brilliance of Vermeer and the inventor. Loved the question of 'What's art?' Loved the creative spirit!
Washington, DC Member

A complete delight - I didn't even sense time passing watching it, which is weird because time was such a huge element.
Washington, DC Member

It is amazing what unlimited income, insatiable determination, unbounding creativity and really, really, really great amounts of patience can create.
Washington, DC Member

Fascinating and awe inspiring. I thought it was slow at times when he is focusing on details in the painting, but that gives an idea about what he went thru - the tortuous discipline and perseverance required by the protagonist.
Washington, DC Member

97% - Dec 22, 2013

Amazing documentary! Charming and warm. Thanks for a great holiday gift.
San Francisco Member

Great movie that forces us to think about what creativity is. The best documentary in all my years of movie club. Tim Jenison is a true renaissance man.
San Francisco Member

Watching paint dry can be fascinating! I loved the shot of the girl at the virginal drinking a Coke Zero - it captured the high-low aesthetic of the film.
San Francisco Member

Glad that finally the divide between technology and art is proven to be smaller than we like to believe. Curiel's talk added to the discussion.
San Francisco Member

96% - Dec 22, 2013

There were an unusually high number of cards containing extremely enthusiastic but brief (one or two word) reactions, so I thought I'd put those comments together as one entry: "Fascinating!" (the word was used many times). "Unbelievable!" "Amazing!" "Awesome!" "Enjoyable and inspiring!" "Wonderful! Wonderful!"
Greater New Haven Member

What a tremendous and valuable undertaking. Tim Jenison is a brilliant and determined man, as was Vermeer. I'm so thankful that I viewed this film.
Greater New Haven Member

A documentary at the top of the art.
Greater New Haven Member

A magnificent achievement of the human spirit, lovingly told. Should be seen by every science student and every art student.
Greater New Haven Member

A perfect little movie, validating American obsessive ingenuity. A hauntingly beautiful score.
Greater New Haven Member

Tim's personality added a great deal to making this most entertaining and informative. Love Vermeer's work and this documentary was much appreciated.
Greater New Haven Member

Tim's Vermeer became our Vermeer, as we meditate on art, obsession, and human ingenuity. As a lover of Vermeer, I loved 80 minutes of this use of photographic technology!
Greater New Haven Member

"Beautiful! Thank you Tim, and thank you Cinema Club" Another, similar, comment: "What amazing men: both Tim and Vermeer. Held by interest from beginning to end. Thank you Cinema Club."
Greater New Haven Member

Amazing. Loved the glimpse into the mind of a genius. Probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise: that's what is so great about the Cinema Club. Another, similar, comment: Wouldn't have seen it except for the Club! Best films consistently this season over the entire club history!, and I've been here from the start.
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

97% - Dec 22, 2013

Absolutely amazing. Intriguing. Mind Expanding. I'm in awe.
Boston Member

I was on the edge of my seat the whole movie.
Boston Member

OMG fantastic. Thoroghly enjoyable. An astonishing film which everyone should find completely fascinating.
Boston Member

Wow! What an amzaing labor of love--it truly turns the history of Vermeer on its head.
Boston Member

MIL

100% - Jan 5, 2014

I loved this film. I loved it! What a fascinating projet, and what dedication, And, in addition to flowing beautifully, the film is often funny! It just doesn't get any better than this.
Milwaukee Member

Very interesting! Would be nice to know how much money was spent on this!
Milwaukee Member

Wow! I want to paint a Monet!
Milwaukee Member

ATL

94% - Jan 5, 2014

Wonderful, funny, informative. What a great way to end the season with a film that is not mainstream but the reason I come to movie club. Thank you!
Atlanta Member

Marvelous / Brilliant! / Fabulous! Loved it!
Atlanta Member

This was a fascinating documentary. I wouldn't have thought watching someone paint interesting but it was. It was like a peek behind the curtain and made the creation of art only more amazing. Excellent music score as well. It love that it was reminiscent of the music of Vermeer's time.
Atlanta Member

What an entertaining film! Incredible insight into what obsessive pursuit of perfection can render. Art still remains art, with or without the use of technology. Tim is as much a creator as Vermeer.
Atlanta Member

I enjoyed that movie the most of any movie I've seen in my 3 seasons of Cinema Club. It proves my point: "Technologists are artists too." After all, St. Paul's cathedral was designed by a mathematician. I'm a software developer, and I've been on a project for five years. Many days I've spent painting those damn seahorses, if you will. A great example of how to run an experiment too!
Atlanta Member

Wonderful perseverance. The energizer bunny has nothing on Tim Jemison.
Atlanta Member

Sony Pictures Classics