Naked States

"Naked States" documents the photo-art odyssey of a man and his quest to photograph people and places all over America with the centerpiece of each work being the naked human form of ordinary people from individuals to scores. The film looks at the artist and his vision, the people who posed, the poignant beauty of the art, and the attitudes, opinions, and philosophies of ordinary folk regarding this compelling endeavor and artistic adventure. As much a study of human nature as of human form.

There are moments of undeniable beauty and grace in witnessing some of the transformative tales of those who freely posed nude for photographer Spencer Tunick during his five-month trek across the United States. One man communicates his own epiphany post photo shoot by noticing that being naked doesn't really reveal who a person is - it's the clothes, rather, by which a person defines himself.

In elevating his work above porn, Tunick often photographs the nude in large numbers. Placing the subjects against the background of daily life, amid urban streets or modern architecture, and in glorious black and white, some moving and timeless images have been created. The body of work Tunick has produced through this documented project alone will serve as noteworthy in the timeline of 21st century artisans.

Overlooking pacing and editing, the film (which oftentimes resembles an episode of MTV's "Road Rules") stands as a testament to artistic integrity and persistence of vision.

One of THE most delightful, entertaining and informative films of an artist at work. Spencer Tunick travels to most of the United States to portray people by one's, by ten's, by hundred's in their natural states.

Instead of showing an artist in angst, this film shows the artist at work and reveals the surprisingly happy effect of his efforts on the people he portrays.

As far removed from Hollywood and films about Jackson Pollock and Vincent Van Gogh and Michelangelo as Spencer's vision is from conventional notions about what art does and who it's for.

Starts slow and tentative and builds to a glorious and satisfying ending. Great pacing and direction put this on a straight track to documentary perfection.

Especially surprising was the segment that reveals Spencer's troubles with --and distaste for.......NUDISTS! They're a real pain in the ass to work with.

Nothing in the film draws attention to the making of the film. There's no didacticism here, but by the end of the film I was ready to take off my clothes and find Spencer.

HBO showed it but if they don't show it again, find it and rent it..... the legacy of Woodstock come to small-town America.

Although quiet and unassuming, Spencer's as bold as his subjects when he goes up to total strangers and persuades them to undress for art's sake.

And yes, he's been arrested, but never on a citizen complaint.....just by cops who can't stand the thought of people not wearing clothes in public. Bravo, Spencer!

My partner and I decided to rent this flick when we discovered that Pecker was already out. We were in the mood for a 'light hearted comedy', but ended up with this documentary. Not a bad choice. It was interesting to see the way in which Spencer Tunick chose to express himself--by encouraging others to be free and comfortable with their bodies. If you harbor inadequacies about your own, do not shy away from this, chances are, you will find somebody whose body is worse than yours. And don't worry about the title. It may look like you are renting a soft core, but it's really not much more than tan lines and pubes.

This film was screened on SBS in Australia a few years ago, a country which had provided him with the largest turnout for his installation up to that time (in Melbourne). Spencer Tunick is indeed a talented photographer and a renaissance man in the sense that he is constantly helping people to re-assess the world and the way that they see themselves by posing nude in public. From the installation in Madison Square right through to the zig-zag line at Burning Man, this film is a joy to watch as people who are initially shy and frightened of posing for him morph into brash and confident individuals afterward. They've been there and done that and don't need to try and prove themselves to anyone anymore. I also manage Spencer's Yahoo! group which has some interesting discussions so you can share your insight on that too if you wish. He hasn't come to my town yet, but I will be one of the first to pose for him if/when he decides to.