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Jeffrey Wright,
Jeffrey Wright,
Michael Wincott,
more...
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Julian Schnabel,
Julian Schnabel
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Miramax
: Drama, Biopics
: 106 min.
: English, French
see additional details...
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Andy Warhol was a phenomenon who warrants a lot of explaining: a completely colorless mega-star celebrity, and a kind of LaBrea Tarpit for a vivid and talented collection of oddballs in the New York scene. He fostered their continued degeneration into weird lifestyles and heavy drug use; and at the same time acted as their mentor, agent, and sponsor. One artist who came to be part of Warhol's "scene" was Jean Michel Basquiat, an antisocial street-bum who went from writing graffiti on alley walls to being the toast of New York City's art world. This film biography chronicles the progression of Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright) and his progression from living in cardboard boxes to penthouses, his romances, his drug use, and his death in 1988 at age 27. Along the way, he never stopped detesting the rich, including art agent Bruno Bischofberger (Dennis Hopper), and he never lost his naivete. Warhol (David Bowie) picks up some of the pieces as Basquiat lurches through the art scene. Cameo appearances by Tatum O'Neal and Courtney Love add spice to this interesting film. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
You might also enjoy:
Downtown 81
Documentary follows Basquiat around NYC when the artist was 19 and also captures the zeitgeist of the art
Nico Icon
Engrossing profile of an earlier NYC Warhol protege
Pollock
Another portrait of an energetic, celebrated, often tormented artist, albeit one with a much longer career
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| Meh
by dropjohnson
January 5, 2006 - 12:34 AM PST
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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| While the relationship between Warhol and Basquiat portrayed in the film is fascinating (the marvelous performances by Bowie and Wright don't hurt), the rest of the movie is formulaic tripe peppered with oddly inappropriate source music. Rent Dowtown '81 instead; it ain't perfect but it'll at least fire your imagine from time to time. |
| Don't Bother
by asklepios
June 13, 2005 - 12:28 PM PDT
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6 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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| If you just want a fictional story concocted in Hollywood, then this movie would still be mediocre. But given that it's based on a true artist, it was rather disappointing. A schlock-riddled plot, supported by weak writing, and absolutely no insight into the socio-political edge of Basquiat's work. His story is reduced to "woo-hoo! look at me! I do drugs and make cool shit!" and a couple of heavy-handed monologues about the corruption of art. What a waste. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.77)
171 Votes
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