Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston

Name: Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston
Genre: Documentary
Released: January 20, 2012
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 34

2012

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

See All

5.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.2	Your Score
5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Ultrasuede: In Search Of Halston

Now Playing: Ultrasuede: In Search Of Halston

Movie Details & Credits

Paladin Films | Release Date: January 20, 2012 | Not Rated

Summary: A glowing, prismatic portrait of the rise and fall of America's first celebrity designer—Halston—the man who was synonymous with fashion in the 1970s, and became the emperor of NYC nightlife. Interviews with friends and witnesses (including Liza Minnelli, Diane Von Furstenberg, André Leon Talley, Anjelica Huston, Bob Colacello, and BillyA glowing, prismatic portrait of the rise and fall of America's first celebrity designer—Halston—the man who was synonymous with fashion in the 1970s, and became the emperor of NYC nightlife. Interviews with friends and witnesses (including Liza Minnelli, Diane Von Furstenberg, André Leon Talley, Anjelica Huston, Bob Colacello, and Billy Joel, among others) round out this glittering evocation of the man who defined the most beautiful and decadent era of recent memory. (Tribeca Film)… Expand

Director: Whitney Smith

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 89 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Jan 18, 2012

The film's darkly bedazzled view of the '70s is spurred by great dish from André Leon Talley, Liza Minnelli, and Nile Rodgers, who set the stage for Halston's triumphs - and his jaw-dropping fall. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Jan 20, 2012

It's unfortunate that director Whitney Sudler-Smith seems to have spent more time on his own hair than his interview prep. Read full review

Diego Semerene

Jan 21, 2012

The tension between the amateurish interviewer and the star interviewees gives the documentary a layer of authenticity that its otherwise formulaic structure and storytelling fail to find. Read full review

Sam Adams

Jan 18, 2012

Growing up, Smith relates, he thought Halston - born Ray Halston Fenwick in Des Moines, Iowa - "was the coolest," which sets the tone for the movie's googly-eyed viewpoint. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Feb 9, 2012

A self-indulgent pilgrimage to the shrine of '70s fabulousness, Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston assembles a fine assortment of archival material but falls far short of its stated goal. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Jan 19, 2012

Fashionistas who flock to Whitney Sudler-Smith's documentary should pay heed to the entire title: this isn't simply the biography of an American icon, but the chronicle of a misguided filmmaker. Read full review

Eric Hynes

Jan 17, 2012

There's a good film to be made about Halston, the dashing man who went from Iowa-born milliner to revered fashion designer to self-popularizing entrepreneur to AIDS-era casualty, but dear Lord, Ultrasuede is not it. Read full review

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

someonenotu

Sep 16, 2017

This movie is a must see if you are interested in Halston or fashion/culture of the 70s and also not bothered by bizarre/horrible movie making. What at first disturbed me... the unsympathetic, egotistical, southern rich kid-schlub running the whole affair, clashes with 70's glitterati, whileThis movie is a must see if you are interested in Halston or fashion/culture of the 70s and also not bothered by bizarre/horrible movie making. What at first disturbed me... the unsympathetic, egotistical, southern rich kid-schlub running the whole affair, clashes with 70's glitterati, while talking about the charming effortless Halston, by the end riveted me. From the first scene of him interviewing Liza while wearing a plaid wrinkly shirt under an ill-fitting suit, I thought, uh oh we have a problem. This devolved into the noticing of the really greasy hair that inexplicably is blonde in one scene and brown in the next, and then blonde again (with never an explination). The incessant shaky camera work (is this a choice?), tops of heads cut off, framing a window seeing the weird angle of an ugly curtain, no art direction, no style...etc etc... all while interviewing the likes of Andre Leon Talley and Diane Von-Furstenburg. The "subject" seems to want to offend these titans by sometimes wearing sunglasses in-doors while talking to them, interrupting, forgetting to turn his cell phone off, putting his feet on furniture. Its like Warhol decided to do a doc on Halston, from the great beyond with his notorious perverse sense of humor. The more I think about I'm sure it was intentional, but it just seems so NOT intentional. One by one the fashion icons (who knows how he gained access into this world) roll their eyes, don't invite him to sit down in their homes etc etc... Interspliced between the **** look of the whole thing, and the bad manners, are wonderful stills and footage of Halston, which of course is why we are there. But the horrendousness of the rest of it is a GREAT contrast. Interesting work, really!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheDRauch

Jun 28, 2012

Ultrasuede, a doc about famed 70s fashion designer Halston, has a filmmaker at the helm who seems faux-interested in his subject, making up what seems to be on the spot questions with his celebrity guests, most notably Liza Minnelli. I didn't know who he was before the film, but I can stillUltrasuede, a doc about famed 70s fashion designer Halston, has a filmmaker at the helm who seems faux-interested in his subject, making up what seems to be on the spot questions with his celebrity guests, most notably Liza Minnelli. I didn't know who he was before the film, but I can still feel it didn't do him justice. Throughout the movie, the director Whitney Smith shows his incompetence in bringing to light the life of a famous icon. He is unprepared for his interviews, awkward around his guests, and seems to just be casually inserting some bits of interesting facts about his life. Some of the recounting of the past by celebs is worth noting here, but it is ruined by Smith. He may have been searching, but we certainly never found Halston in this film and my piece of advice - look him up online. You'll learn and appreciate his legacy more than this half-baked film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tibzoid

Jun 10, 2012

Lazy, self-indulgent nonsense. I really can't think of a worse documentary. You or I with no preparation and a Flipcam could do a more profound job. Halston was a fashion designer who really did deserve a proper documentary. This dolt Smith just clowns around in front of the camera. HeLazy, self-indulgent nonsense. I really can't think of a worse documentary. You or I with no preparation and a Flipcam could do a more profound job. Halston was a fashion designer who really did deserve a proper documentary. This dolt Smith just clowns around in front of the camera. He should be ashamed of himself.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 3 REVIEWS