My Architect
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
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  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    100
    Movies today rarely touch chords that are spiritual or deeply emotional, but Nathaniel Kahn's remarkable documentary My Architect: A Son's Journey does both.
  2. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    Obviously a profoundly personal film, but it's also a smartly conducted tour through the world of building and design that Kahn towered over during the most successful phases of his career.
  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    100
    Not only is it the best documentary in a vintage season for nonfiction films (see "American Splendor," "Capturing the Friedmans," and "Spellbound"), it's also one of the best films of the year. It's as lyrical about the particulars of Kahn as it is about the universals of fathers and sons.
  4. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    100
    A first-person documentary with the subterranean pull of a superb confessional novel.
  5. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    91
    The journey comes together to be one of the very best of the "in search of" documentaries: open-minded, informative, immaculately crafted, full of moving and highly privileged moments of discovery.
  6. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Leslie Camhi
    90
    An inspired homage to his father's work, and a bracing, bittersweet testament of filial love mixed with pain and compassion.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: David Rooney
    90
    This fascinating portrait of an eccentric visionary and his chaotic triple family life is an accomplished, enormously satisfying non-fiction work.
  8. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Benjamin Forgey
    90
    This is a bittersweet story, no question. But to the son's great credit, what emerges from his patient investigation is a remarkably rich, even sympathetic, portrait of the father.
  9. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: David Schwartz
    90
    Absorbing, beautiful documentary.
  10. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    What a sad film this, and how filled with the mystery of human life.
  11. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    88
    The result is an immensely enjoyable portrait of a strange-looking, non-comforming genius who loved women as much as designing masterpieces but was never able to commit to them. In other words: great architect, lousy family man.
  12. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    88
    Nathaniel fares well with his father's fellow masters, although Frank Gehry seems evasive.
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    The son is obsessive and petulant, punishing and self-pitying, and by the time he gets to a talk with his hurt old mother, we understand why.
  14. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Marc Mohan
    83
    The most telling moment comes when his mother reveals that, despite all the subterfuge and false promises, she wouldn't have had it any other way.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. JayH.
    6
    I am not quite sure why the fuss over a relatively unknown architect, who apparently wasn't even that great. He is a fascinating character however, but hardly admirable. He was a selfish man as well as a semi-genius - in some ways. It is a well done documentary, it is certainly well researched. I am less than enthralled over the man or his work.… Full Review »
  2. KenL
    9
    An extremely interesting documentary by Louis Kahn's son. I really liked it. A story about a son trying to understand his father, with the backdrop of visiting most of his famous buildings. So, there are various themes -- the son's journey, the unusual life of Louis Kahn (and his three "families"), and the products of his work. A nice balance between interviews, vintage film of Kahn, Nathaniel's journey and Kahn's buildings. Also, a good Q&A session with the director on the DVD.… Full Review »
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