Original title: ‘Kim Novak’s Vertigo’ Review: Doc Tribute to an Icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age Crosses the Line From Loving to Fawning
Shown out of competition in Venice in conjunction with the festival giving a lifetime achievement award to its 92-years-young titular subject, documentary Kim Novak’s Vertigo is essentially a cinematic fan letter, written with love but chock full of gushing, purple prose, some of it by the subject herself. Swiss filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe is already known for his essayistic celebrations of auteurs and their masterworks, including Lynch/Oz, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist and The People Vs. George Lucas. He may take writing, directing and co-producing credits here, and appears onscreen as Novak’s interviewer, but it’s Novak who feels like the one who’s largely in charge. Kim Novak’s Vertigo The Bottom Line Her-story. Venue: Venice Film Festival (Out of Competition) Director/screenwriter: Alexandre O. Philippe 1 hour 16 minutes That commitment to seeing the world through Novak’s eyes comes with a certain price in credibility. However much you might admire her as an a