BASQUIAT (1996)

American painter and filmmaker Julian Schnabel has made a mark with numerous arthouse darlings including BEFORE NIGHT FALLS (2000) which won the grand jury price at the Venice Film Festival (also noted for Javier Bardem’s breakthrough Oscar nominated role), THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007) which earned Schnabel a best director award at Cannes, and more recently the tranquil AT ETERNITY’S GATE (2018) a bio-pic starring Willem Dafoe in an Oscar-nominate role as painter Vincent Van Gogh.

Schnabel cinematic debut was another bio-pic about a painter. Today is the 25th anniversary of the release of BASQUIAT (1996), a film about artist Jean Michel Basquiat. The movie certainly has its flaws, but if you enjoy films about art, artists and art history there are lots to sink your teeth into and casting alone makes the film sing.

Jeffrey Wright disappears (almost literally as he has never been thinner) into the role of the world renowned postmodern street artist, and there are lots of stylish supporting ensemble players. David Bowie is spellbinding as Andy Warhol, followed by ringers Gary Oldman, Benicio Del Toro, Parker Posey, Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken and Willem Dafoe.

We have seen many portrayals of Andy Warhol on screen, but this one is the most fun and accessible, as Bowie in Warhol’s actual wig, glasses and jacket portrays him as almost playful, comical and amusing, and not the usual pretentious and self gratuitous caricature we often see in other movies.

I really do enjoy watching Jeffrey Wright, as there is always an undercurrent of intensity and intellectuality in his performances. Somehow he does a lot, when it seems like he is not doing much at all, understated but electric. It is a threat to see him in a lead role, especially early in his career.

Wright’s performance, Bowie’s Warhol, the eclectic soundtrack (The Pogues, Miles Davis, Toadies, Charlie Parker, Iggy Pop, Tom Waites, Grandmaster Flash, The Psychedelic Furs, The Rolling Stones and Peggy Lee to just name a few) and the setting of the Art world in 1980s New York makes BASQUIAT a Must See Movie.