Tim's Vermeer (2013)

Sharkey presents the documentary as extraordinary. Its fascinating focus is Tim Jenison’s attempt to recreate a Johannes Vermeer painting.

Kohn finds the documentary surface-deep but engaging, with Jenison’s creative quest making the journey worthwhile. He praises Jenison’s infectious enthusiasm while faulting the film for lacking a critical voice on its central theory.

The critic finds the documentary bizarre, moving and witty, and says it makes viewers reconsider Vermeer’s work. They praise its generous spirit and its exploration of creativity, while singling out Jenison’s detailed recreation of The Music Lesson.

McCarthy finds the documentary entertaining and accessible, and sees Jenison’s experiment as making Vermeer’s methods more understandable without diminishing his achievement. He particularly praises the remarkable likeness Jenison creates and the film’s engaging exploration of art and technology.

Debruge finds the documentary an exceptionally entertaining, lean account of Jenison’s obsessive experiment. He praises its lively presentation of the painstaking recreation, while noting that it leaves the larger questions about art and Vermeer largely unresolved.

Ebiri finds the documentary charming and thoughtful, concluding that its attempt to demystify art leaves viewers with even greater awe. He praises its exploration of how technology and artistic inspiration can work together.

The review finds the documentary enthralling, funny and occasionally maddening, though it loses momentum in its final third. It praises Jenison’s dry humour and a wry David Hockney cameo among the film’s compensatory pleasures.

Weber finds the documentary’s investigative quest engaging and its final emotional payoff cathartic. He particularly praises the pleasurable discoveries in Jenison’s detective work and the commitment behind recreating Vermeer’s painting process.

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The review gives the film a middling three-star rating. Its premise centers on the investigation of Vermeer’s paintings and their uncanny photographic quality.

Pulver finds the documentary entertaining but ultimately says it reveals little about why Vermeer’s paintings are great. He singles out Jenison’s grim determination as the film shows the arduous work of painting the replica.

The critic finds the film’s discoveries astonishing but says the movie reduces a fascinating process to a stunt. The film’s brief moments of scientific discovery are singled out for praise, while its rushed, mechanical presentation draws criticism.

The critic gives the documentary an enthusiastic verdict, calling it funny, moving, and among the year’s best. They especially praise Jenison’s remarkable recreation project and Penn & Teller’s humor and knack for revealing how the apparent trick works.

Lambie calls the documentary an essential watch for film geeks and finds its case for artistic ingenuity compelling. He especially praises Tim Jenison’s inventive, painstaking reconstruction and the film’s exploration of art and technology.

Green praises the documentary as a delightful, quietly compelling account of Tim Jenison’s pursuit of Vermeer’s painting methods. He singles out Jenison’s devotion and Teller’s restrained filmmaking for letting the art speak for itself.

The reviewer finds the documentary entertaining and its subject’s artistic quest compelling, though the project and film briefly lose momentum. They particularly praise how Penn and Teller make potentially technical material lively and accessible.