BASQUIAT This complex, confronting and enthralling film is a gem. It traces the life of visual and performing artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The young American/Haitian painter who made a splash in New York, and whose brief life played out in the '80's, is fascinating.
Jeffrey Wright nails the central character, in a brooding and unnerving portrayal. From life on the streets of Manhattan, eeking out an existence, making pancake syrup pictures and spraying graffiti on walls, to becoming a pop art darling, watching him is a treat. Enter a parade of other notable performers, Dennis Hopper; David Bowie (as a perfectly characteristic Andy Warhol); Gary Oldman; Benicio Del Toro; the lovely Claire Forlani (as Jean-Michel's girlfriend) and William Defoe. BASQUIAT features the brilliant cinematic style from the mind of director/writer Julian Schnabel.
Music from Public Image Ltd.; Van Morrison's Them (my favorite song in BASQUIAT, "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"); P.J. Harvey; Joy Division and Bowie color the scenes in the film. It's worth getting the soundtrack for Tom Waits' sensational version of "Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen) a.k.a "Waltzing Matilda" and the haunting, excellent "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen's classic) notably interpreted by John Cale.
BASQUIAT is a strong biography of a a memorable man and artist. It's hard to improve upon a semi-legend, but Schnabel has done just that. See it.
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