Phonearl
Good start, but then it gets ruined
Grimossfer
Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%
Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
roy skillicorn
After Jeffrey came back from his first shooting with the "CaveDigger", I knew he was on to something. The character of Ra and his artistic obsessions, the unique perspectives of the work and of Ra from the people with whom he interacts, and the true grit of the environment in which he works are all captured exquisitely and completely in a way that only a director who is a true artist himself, could. Jeffrey Karoff puts people at ease as he rolls the camera as if it was always part of the natural milieu, thus capturing the subjects basic humanness. He guides them on a path to the unknown that eventually unfolds into a story that was always there but until then, hidden. That is Jeffrey's gift. Bravo. Encore.
ctkingson
Not only do we see the sinuous grace of these carved sandstone interiors and get the feel for how challenging they are to excavate, but we are let into the life of an eccentric and staunchly independent artist who nevertheless is a gentle and appealing soul. A man in his 60s carries a wheelbarrow and shovel deep into mountainous wilderness on his back; he works alone, underground, never knowing when a collapse might end his life; he worries about the safety of those who might try to recover his body. We meet some of his patrons and see their reaction to the unmovable force that he is when his artistic vision is challenged, but though some find him too formidable, others--friends and loved ones--sacrifice to help him along his path. The clarity of his understanding of his values, his humility when he doubts, the love he engenders, and the respect so many have for his vision make this movie extremely touching and thought provoking. The crisp cinematography ravishes with the beauty of the New Mexico sky and landscape, and the magical caves hidden inside it.
ikoslow-902-728247
Jeffrey Karoff has created a deep, rich exploration of a man who creates wondrous spaces dug out of the sides of mountains. The title is just a teaser as to the reality of his projects. Cave is defined as:noun 1. a hollow in the earth, especially one opening more or less horizontally into a hill, mountain, etc.Thus one thinks of something completely different than the brightly lit living spaces created by this artist. Not only does Karoff show the creation of the caves, but digs into the life of the artist and shows his personal and business relationships as well, All this done with a light touch, that leaves the documentarian completely in the background without distraction from the main focus. Words are inadequate to describe this piece and you must see it to get the full impact of the enormity of this artist's work. Thumbs up!
lisacitron
Visually astounding portrait of a man on a mission: to dig into the mountains of northern New Mexico and carve out a cave. Not just any cave, but a cave whose interior surfaces are transformed into spaces, shapes and images that encourage rest and quietude and, perhaps, illumination. Seeker or not, this film is so well crafted that the viewer experiences awe at being inside a cave. The artist/cave digger puts his life at risk every foot forward and upward to soaring cathedral high ceilings. That the filmmaker entered into these caves to document the work compounds the thrill of seeing two artists, cave digger and filmmaker, put their lives at risk.One theme unexpectedly emerges: the contest of wills between the commissioner of a cave and the artist. At what point does the work belong to the artist and/or the owner? How do we feel when we see the artist told to stop before completing his work?
