HOW MUCH DOES YOUR BUILDING WEIGH, MR. FOSTER?Movie Reviews
Story: Documentary about English architect Norman Foster and his quest to improve the quality of life through design. Cast:Norman Foster, Dejan Sudjic, David Nelson, Richard Serra, Anish Kapoor, Paul Goldberger, Carl Abbott, Alain de Botton, Nigel Dancy, Loretta Law, Mouzhan Majidi, Stefan Behling, Jurgen Happ, narrator: Dejan SudjicDirector:Carlos Carcas, Norberto Lopez AmadoOpened:December 14, 2011On DVD:June 19, 2012From:Aiete-Ariane Films S.A.Length:1 hr. 12 min.
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?, Mixed Reviews (Doc) Limited
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? played in limited release to mixed reviews. • Moira Macdonald wrote in the Seattle Times, "Many renowned architects and writers speak briefly to the camera about Foster's work, and Foster himself, precise and well-spoken, frequently chimes in. But ultimately, the buildings speak for themselves..." • And Mark Feeney wrote in the Boston Globe, "...a treatment of Foster so reverential it verges on camp." More Reviews Below...
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? Positive Reviews (10 Reviews, reviews below)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...an admiring documentary... [Architectural] work that is so sleek and beautiful and in tune with its time deserves more scrutiny than this movie by Mr. López Amado and Mr. Carcas provides."(Read the full review...) 634 words, 01/25/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...dazzlingly shot, often hypnotic... the film rarely delves into the nuts and bolts -- finances, labor issues, the creational process -- behind Foster's landmark structures.... Still, the film is an architecture lover's dream."(Read the full review...) 220 words, 02/17/12
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD "Spanish filmmakers -- directors Carlos Carcas and Norberto Lopez Amado, composer Joan Valent and cinematographer Valentin Alvarez -- show Foster's work in the best light with smart framing and zesty scoring."(Read the full review...) 252 words, 05/04/11
Brian Miller, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "...it's essentially an infomercial for the company Foster unsuccessfully tried to sell before the 2008 crash."(Read the full review...) 311 words, 01/25/12
KEY CITIES (2 Reviews)
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: MODERATE "...ostensibly a documentary about an architect. Norman Foster is best known around these parts for the new Art of the Americas Wing at the Museum of Fine Arts... It's a treatment of Foster so reverential it verges on camp."(Read the full review...) 368 words, 12/14/11
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING "Many renowned architects and writers speak briefly to the camera about Foster's work, and Foster himself, precise and well-spoken, frequently chimes in. But ultimately, the buildings speak for themselves..."(Read the full review...) 320 words, 01/13/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (3 Reviews)
Brian Miller, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "...it's essentially an infomercial for the company Foster unsuccessfully tried to sell before the 2008 crash."(Read the full review...) 311 words, 01/25/12
Bill Weber, Slant: VERY GOOD(cg) "Unusually successful in synchronizing the ethos and oeuvre of its protagonist, British architect Norman Foster, with its own visual strategies and rhythms... the rare documentary that lionizes an accomplished figure without tipping into hagiography."(Read the full review...) 361 words, 01/23/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...an admiring documentary... [Architectural] work that is so sleek and beautiful and in tune with its time deserves more scrutiny than this movie by Mr. López Amado and Mr. Carcas provides."(Read the full review...) 634 words, 01/25/12
Mark Jenkins, NPR: MODERATE "The documentary sidesteps controversies small and large.... 'How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?' is, by design, lightweight."(Read the full review...) 584 words, 01/26/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...dazzlingly shot, often hypnotic... the film rarely delves into the nuts and bolts -- finances, labor issues, the creational process -- behind Foster's landmark structures.... Still, the film is an architecture lover's dream."(Read the full review...) 220 words, 02/17/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Alissa Simon, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "...terrific-looking... worshipfully traces the career of prolific English architect Norman Foster from his humble origins to the top of his profession.... Crisp and dynamic..."(Read the full review...) 471 words, 09/07/10
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...dazzlingly shot, often hypnotic... the film rarely delves into the nuts and bolts -- finances, labor issues, the creational process -- behind Foster's landmark structures.... Still, the film is an architecture lover's dream."(Read the full review...) 220 words, 02/17/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...an admiring documentary... [Architectural] work that is so sleek and beautiful and in tune with its time deserves more scrutiny than this movie by Mr. López Amado and Mr. Carcas provides."(Read the full review...) 634 words, 01/25/12
20.3 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?'s reviews are separated by an average 20.3 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? (10 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?'s reviews cover 12.2% of potential readers (average is 68.2%). Volume:The film's reviews total 3,832 words involume (average is 19,979 words). Length:The film's reviews average 383 words in length (the norm is 512 words).
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? Coverage, Volume & Length (10 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 5 Days After Release (Norm is 0.2 Release)
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?'s reviews on average broke 5 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 0.2 hours after. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? (10 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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