Guest of Cindy Sherman (2008) Reviews

• Of parrots and place tags

  JohnSeal2009-07-04

  Paul H-O made a minor name for himself in the Manhattan art world during the 1990s by co-hosting a cable public access show called Gallery Beat. His show provided him the opportunity to meet photographer-artist Cindy Sherman, one of the most talented and important American artists of the post-pop art era. Guest of Cindy Sherman examines the ups--but mostly downs--of their five-year relationship, in which Paul found himself disappearing in the shadow of his famous girlfriend. Fans of Sherman will be thrilled at the opportunity to see much candid footage of the artist; others will be intrigued by H-O's tale of relegation to second-class citizenship.

• Dissolving selves

  ThurstonHunger2016-06-02

  Surprised this has only 1 review. It's a fine documentary, sure with shades of solipsism, but will raise thoughts of art, artifice and authenticity. Oh and a great shot at or shout out to the old all-access cable TV world! Which was like pre-youtube for odd yahoos. Sherman's work, which honestly I was minimally aware of, is interesting to see, as well as getting a sort of secret Salinger-esque look at Sherman herself. Are her photos self-involved or self-dissolved. Feels like both. But she emerges in her scenes with Paul H-O making this film almost feel like a love story directed by Michel Gondry. To a degree, both Sherman and Paul strike me as the kind of "have the lobster" people who stumble into success. Just sort of see the world as an opportunity opening, granted they appear to take opposite entrances. One introverted the other extremely extroverted. Anyways, I think this film deserves more attention. Possibly from you, and certainly from people who film themselves a lot. This might encourage you to keep doing so.