A New Richard Avedon Documentary Lets Him Down
A new documentary titled “Avedon,” directed by Ron Howard and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, is criticized for offering a conventional biography of photographer Richard Avedon rather than a deeper analysis of his artistic process. The film relies on behind-the-scenes anecdotes and celebrity talking heads, including Isabella Rossellini, with limited technical discussion beyond moments such as Avedon’s shift from a Rolleiflex to an 8x10 camera to better engage sitters. It includes archival remarks in which Avedon describes his photographs as an autobiography made from faces, and notes his stylistic influence from Fred Astaire films and a later feedback loop with the 1957 musical “Funny Face.” The review argues the documentary’s approach reflects Howard’s broader, formulaic style in artist-profile films.
From This Briefing
This story was covered in Monuments, Money, and Museums on the Brink