Visual
artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world.
Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists
biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug
addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an
opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big
screen.
Here
you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual
artists biographies.
Lust
for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952
Vincent
Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for
Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most
notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone,
who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which
also had appeared on the silver screen.
If
you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for
Life, which features almost two hunderd of Van Goghs original
paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous
filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a
little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert
Altmans Vincent and Theo from
Like
Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the
artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive,
manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death,
Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso
infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and
Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress
Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works.
With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso,
Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an
artist as a cruel, self centered genius.
Girl
with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003
Comparing
to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less
controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more
restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in
Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low
class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic
conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie
is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in
evoking Vermeers perception of light and color.
Basquiat
directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996
The
most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is
the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big
expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated
painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle
Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have
seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat
is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol.
Frida
directed by Julie Taymor in 2002
Like
most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the
silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which
includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon
Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the
subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before
Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her
position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman
painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida
Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful
and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions
of depicting artists on film.
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