Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts

I will start off by saying that I'm a huge Philip Glass fan- I've been to over 50 Glass concerts of all types since 1988 and have an extensive collection of Glass memorabilia as well. I've had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Glass on several occasions.This movie is essential viewing for anyone interested in music and creativity. Mr. Glass is a genius; a music "machine" who is incredibly prolific and obsessed with music composition. He's a human being too, as the film vividly illustrates. He is simply an amazing man yet struggles with the demands of life as all of us do, as the ending of the film makes clear.Scott Hicks, who has directed the films "Shine" and "No Reservations" among others, is a fan of Mr. Glass and followed Mr. Glass around the world for approximately two years as he worked on composing his Symphony No. 8, toured his work for the Philip Glass Ensemble and world musicians called "Orion", and premiered his opera "Waiting for the Barbarians" in Erfurt, Germany.There is simply so much in this movie that I can't go into all of it here. I first saw the movie at the Sarasota Film Festival and it was shown on PBS TV as part of the "American Masters" series in April of this year.Even if you don't like Glass's music, this movie will carry you along for an exploration into an incredible artist. This movie is just like Glass's music- multi-dimensional, out of the ordinary, beautiful, humorous, spiritual, and haunting. The cinematography is also superior to ordinary documentaries. It's fast paced and could have easily been much longer. Also includes a second DVD which includes outtakes, extended interviews with Glass, performance clips from the incredible work "Orion", and Glass performing "Metamporphosis" on piano in concert. A remarkable portrait of the greatest living composer!

This movie is just like spending time with Phillip Glass, in his home, with his friends and family, etc. seeing bits of him outside his music, (yes, he is just a person,) but brilliant, of course, but kind, down to earth mixed in with genius. No, he does not walk on water. He is married, has kids, parents, makes and eats pizza, has his eccentricities, has suffered loss, has struggled, and probably still does. It's wonderful he has opened up to us, in his big hearted way, to share himself this way, so we can learn more about his music, where it comes from, how he works, and more about "genius's." Something about him and his music and this movie causes me to think that we all have this potential, somewhere, if we can access it. It's inspiring. I am as touched by the movie as I am expanded by all of his music, and it's about this ordinary person who is an extraordinary person, too.

This is the documentary that recently airedon the PBS series American Masters. This isa terrific insight to the mind of such abrilliant and multi-faceted person. Not onlydoes Glass come off as intriguing, butself-effacing and humble. You will learnabout his background in music as wellas his upbringing, family, and spiritualpursuits. The interviews are candid andwitty. As a composer myself I found thisvery inspiring, but one does not needto be a musician to appreciate. For thosethat have seen the doc on PBS already it'sstill worth it with all the bonus footageon the second disc. You get about anhour and a half of the leftover interviewsand about the same in live performances.A must have for Glass fans!

From the excellent and critically minded reviews of this DVD, I would say that when mine arrives I am in for a geniune treat. I have studied the music and personality of Glass over the years, observed the impact of his music on my college-age students, and relished his soundtracks in recent film releases. From humble beginnings Glass emerges as one of America's prime exponents of minimalism, a late 20th century musical trend that is still fireing the minds of musicians everywhere.DVD arrived, viewed the entire presentation. Wonderful mix of Glass's music and biographical scenes of him over an 18 month period, along with historic footage of his music-making and family situations. A complicated man whose music rises above traditional fare. You won't be disappointed in this DVD investment.

What a lovely documentary about composer Philip Glass done primarily by one photographer and a sound tech. You get a peek inside Woody Allen's edit room, visit with the painter, Chuck Closs, and see how an opera is put together. If you are a fan of Philip Glass or a little bit interested in the man and his work, this is a fine move to see. I loved the music and the intimate look inside his world.

This DVD set unfolds the creative stages of composer Philip Glass’s life in music and the muses who have inspired him. The magnificence of his art speaks for itself here, but this DVD set also lets the composer explain how it happened. His muses speak directly to the viewer about their experience on the creative journey with him. In my opinion, the honesty of Glass himself and his muses is intimate and helpful to other couples or buddies on a creative journey albeit in different roles. Knowing about the difficulties or illusions encountered is enormously helpful in maturing on a journey of our own.

I feel I've just spent a year with Glass (the biopic covers a year) and I've fallen in love with his life. I want to be him! I want his gifts of music and hard work, his friends (who obviously love him), his kids, his summer house, and I long to watch him make pizza from scratch while talking about composition and then -- eat as much as I can hold. What a LIKABLE man (even his siblings like him). I've always appreciated his music--it's like English grammar, subject, subject, verb, object. It's one of those films you live inside as you're watching it--I recommend it.

This was actually a present for someone else who, I have since heard, enjoyed it as much as I did when I saw it at the cinema. I have actually ordered two more as Christmas presents for people who I think will love it, too.I