Basquiat

Rating:
Summary: As a fan of films and art...I'm Inspired!
Review: Whether or not you like the work of Basquiat (or art in general, for that matter) this is a very enjoyable film. This true story of a street bum turned hot NYC artist is both heartfelt and raw. And what a cast! Jeffrey Wright, Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Hopper, David Bowie, Parker Posey, plus cameos by Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe, Tatum O'Neal, Courtney Love, and many others make up this very talented and diverse group of actors. Let it be known that the people who are in this movie made very little money, therfore, they WANTED to be in this movie. They were passionate about the story and the life of Basquiat, and it shows through their performances. Jeffrey Wright is absolutely unforgettable as Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Bowie as Andy Warhol is hysterical and amazing. The film captures the essence of Basquiat - as an artist, as a person. The film has the main character tackling issues dealing with racism, relationships, success, failure, optimism, and loss. This is one DVD that will not collect dust in your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Watch It
Review: Let me first quote from the movie, "This one is super-fantastic, I must have it." I loved this movie. I've read reviews and talked to my snobby movie buff friends at length. I still can't stop thinking about it.

Couldn't get enough of Wright's brilliant job. Del Toro is mind-numbingly interesting. There are some slips on their English accents, but Bowie and Oldman were flawless. Everyone put on their best actor faces and played well. The director's sketchy style perfectly matched the randomness of this story.

I happen to like modern art, a lot. This movie may not work for people who are not into this expression.. My take one the early 80's vibe was pretty good. I'm sure movie buffs find fault with the lack of perms. But nevertheless, this movie is worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: Good conversation is hard to find in this town.
Review: Art can be seen differently by each eye that glances upon it. Some will see it as innovative creative pieces of the mind, while others will simply see squiggles and markings on any plain surface. That is how I felt with Basquiat. Throughout the entire story of his humble beginnings as a graffiti artist living on the streets until finally reaching the pinnacle of his existence (thanks to his friend Andy Warhol). I watched his story, I listened to his words, and endured this film, but I just couldn't see his artwork. Being a fan of Warhol's work (is that too clichéd to say?), I was eager to fully immerse myself in this film and see yet another soul touched by the aura of this infamous artist. Sadly, this eagerness flopped when I was ravished with poor editing and horrendous direction. Thankfully there was the brilliant Jeffery Wright to make up for the errors caused by director Julian Schnabel.

Wright, courageous enough to play Basquiat, stands as the center of this film while everyone else just seems to falter around him. Yes, there were some big names that attempted to connect with some of their lost youth memories, but they could not hold a candle to Wright's portrayal of a homeless genius. Benicio Del Toro, Claire Forlani, David Bowie (as laughable Andy Warhol), Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, and Christopher Walken are just a few of the big names that accompany Wright through this journey. What depresses me is that these are some of my favorite actors, yet they were struggling through this film.

Overall, this was a decent film. Not the highlight of the art world bio-pics, but definitely worth watching once for a glimpse of classic Hollywood in Wright's eyes. I promise this, he will win an Oscar before I get too old that I cannot watch films any longer. This is my prediction.

Grade: *** out of *****