Staff Pick
John Malkovich, truly like you’ve never seen him before, posing as famous photographs. Malkovich as Che Guevara. Malkovich in haunting despair as Migrant Mother in the Dust Bowl shot by Dorothy Lange. Malkovich as a surprisingly beautiful Marilyn Monroe. Both a paean to great photographers and to Malkovich’s simple yet deep acting style. Recommended By Tracey T., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
John Malkovich appears as some of photography's most famous subjects in 41 recreations of iconic portraits
Hollywood legend John Malkovich may seem like an unlikely choice for an artist's muse, but American photographer Sandro Miller declares him "a photographer's dream." Miller (born 1958) has been finding inspiration in the Academy Award-nominated actor since the two first met in 1999. In their latest collaboration, Miller pays homage to the great photographers of past and present, with Malkovich as his sole model, in their recreations of 41 iconic portraits. The project is a testament to both Miller's skill as a photographer and Malkovich's chameleon-esque acting ability.
With months of research in addition to accurate costumes and makeup application, Miller's recreations are delightfully exact in their lighting and editing, while Malkovich seems to easily inhabit the original subjects no matter who he is meant to portray. He appears as the titular migrant mother in Dorothea Lange's Depression-era portrait, as a bewigged Andy Warhol cast in crimson and as both sisters in Diane Arbus' infamous Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, matching with himself in a wide-collared dress and lace stockings. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Miller manages to breathe new life into some of the world's most recognizable images in this playful take on the history of photography's intersection with pop culture.
About the Author
Sandro Miller first became interested in photography at the age of 16, when he was exposed to the work of Irving Penn. Miller's career now spans over thirty years, and he has photographed for clients such as American Express, Dove, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Nike, and Nikon, with whom he has a longstanding working relationship. His editorial work has been featured in The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, Time, Forbes, Wired, New York Magazine, and ESPN Magazine, among others. He won a Saatchi & Saatchi Best New Director Award for his short film Butterflies featuring John Malkovich, a 2014 Lucie Award for International Photographer of the Year, and has been voted one of the top 200 advertising photographers in the world for the past five years. In addition to photography, Miller devotes himself to charitable organizations such as the American Heart Association, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Milwaukee, Arts for Life, Dance for Life, and AIDS Chicago. He lives and works in Chicago.