Cremaster 3 (2002)

Cremaster 3 (2002)
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Cremaster 3 is the final installment of the five-part epic film cycle from director and sculpture artist Matthew Barney. Encompassing a dizzying number of themes, this elaborately stylized experimental film showcases Barney's affinity for architecture and sex. Much of the highly symbolic imagery involves Celtic mythology and phallic references, with Barney himself appearing as the Entered Apprentice and sculptor Richard Serra playing architect Hiram Abiff. Some of the settings include the Chrysler Building in New York City, the Saratoga race track, and the Guggenheim museum ( where much of Barney's work is actually shown). Spatially driven rather than narratively, the film is a display of visual effects and impulses with little to no dialogue. All five parts of the film cycle (titled out of sequence) can be seen at art galleries, though Barney has been known to give out video copies with the purchase of his sculptures. Cremaster 3 was shown in the Frontier program at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Starring:
Richard Serra, Matthew Barney, (more)
Director(s):
Matthew Barney
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Cremaster 3

Cremaster 3 is the final installment of the five-part epic film cycle from director and sculpture artist Matthew Barney. Encompassing a dizzying number of themes, this elaborately stylized experimental film showcases Barney's affinity for architecture and sex. Much of the highly symbolic imagery involves Celtic mythology and phallic references, with Barney himself appearing as the Entered Apprentice and sculptor Richard Serra playing architect Hiram Abiff. Some of the settings include the Chrysler Building in New York City, the Saratoga race track, and the Guggenheim museum ( where much of Barney's work is actually shown). Spatially driven rather than narratively, the film is a display of visual effects and impulses with little to no dialogue. All five parts of the film cycle (titled out of sequence) can be seen at art galleries, though Barney has been known to give out video copies with the purchase of his sculptures. Cremaster 3 was shown in the Frontier program at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
31 mins

Complete Cast of Cremaster 3


Director(s):
Matthew Barney
Writer(s):
Matthew Barney
Producer(s):
Barbara Gladstone, Matthew Barney
Categories:
Special Interest
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Member Reviews
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Nathan A.

It is strange that they advertise this as "Cremaster 3" and that the description of the film is for the film "Cremaster 3" because this is NOT "Cremaster 3" but only a small section (31 minutes) of the roughly 3 hour film. The entire film is not released on DVD -- and may never be released on DVD. In fact, this section of the film is probably (for this viewer) the least visually interesting segment because what it does basically recapitulate the basic themes and elements of the entire film by capturing them in the form of an elaborate initiation ritual. For that reason, this part of the film feels much more formal, more like an exercise, than the elaborate fantasy that is constructed in the entire film. There are some very interesting moments, and in the context of the film this sequence fits, but out of the context of the entire film it feels a bit awkward and disjointed. It gives a flavor for the film, but I don't think it stands alone.

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Jay V.

The movie is ODD. Plain ODD. I gave it 5 stars because no other movie has ever left me more puzzled yet strangly satisfied with what I had watched. Richard Serra, arguably one of the most important minimalist artists of our time, makes an appearance in this odd film as the "architect", while M.Barney makes an appearance as the "Entered Apprentice". The movie is nothing but different levels of sexuality (the name of the movie itself comes from the process of the rising and falling of the testicles). Very odd. In my opinion, though, you only have one life and to miss this strange film would probably cheat you of the chance of seeing anything else like it.

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Linda W.

I hesitate to call Cremaster 3 an "art film." It's rather an elaborate moving art installation that just happens to have been filmed. The art is less in the filming that what is being filmed. It consists of the director in the get-up you see on the cover scaling five levels of the Guggenheim, each level presenting a different challenge. Thematically, the film's hopelessly esoteric, drawing on the myth of Hiram and basking in self reference (each level is meant to symbolize a different film in the series). There is a commentary track, but I don't feel that enjoying the film is contingent upon understanding it. Ultimately, it's just fun to watch: between the mostly naked showgirls, the legless runway model who turns into a cat woman, the punk metal bands, the colorful imagery, Jonathan Bepler's musical score, and the bunny eared cabaret dancers, it has a charming quality contradicted by the gruesome nature of the "Entered Apprentice," the man pictured on the cover.

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