I’ve often looked at various pieces of art and wondered why
they were hailed as the greatest works possible. I mean certainly there are
works of art that truly inspire or that capture moments in time for eternity or
at least until the paint fades. But in recent decades it seems that nearly
anything qualifies as art and so many attempting to look cultured and elite and
therefore hail it as the next best thing since sliced bread. I’m often reminded
of the works that sold for thousands who claimed there was deep meaning in the
pictures only to be told a few years later that they were made by a chimpanzee
with a paint filled squirt gun. Comic writer/artists Daniel Clowes knowns about
those types of people.
Based on his graphic novel the movie ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL
tells the story of Jerome (Max Minghella), a young man who has doodled all his
life and dreams of becoming a great artist like Picasso. After perusing a
pamphlet about an art school and being attracted to a nude model in it, he sets
out for his first year at Strathmore. His roommates are aspiring film maker
Vince (Ethan Suplee) and closeted gay fashion designer Matthew (Nick Swardson).
In his drawing class Jerome makes friends with Bardo (Joel
David Moore), a consistent student who takes classes long enough to find out
what they’re about before dropping them, only to take them again and do better.
Bardo has learned the ins and outs of the art world taking classes like this.
As Jerome offers picture that actually look like the models on display his art
is criticized while those that look like little more than blotches or lines are
hailed as having intrinsic beauty. Even his teacher Prof. Sandiford (John
Malkovich) views things these ways.
Bardo takes Jerome to meet someone special, a once budding
artists named Jimmy (Jim Broadbent). Living in one of the worse sections of
town in a trash filled apartment Jimmy is willing to enlighten anyone for a
bottle of booze. It isn’t until later that we discover just who Jimmy was.
Jerome finally gets a glimpse of the woman of his dreams,
Audrey (Sophia Miles) the young model in the pamphlet. He draws her and
captures her beauty but once more is rebuffed by the oh so highbrow students.
It does provide him with the opportunity to talk to her though and they begin to
develop a friendship.
That is threatened by two things. The first is another
student named Jonah (Matt Keeslar) who has caught Audrey’s eye with his
painting. The second is a serial killer stalking the campus known as the
Strathmore Strangler. All of these items will combine to provide a stark look
at the world of art and those who are willing to accept the oddest things as
such while bypassing what should be praised.
The movie is entertaining and has some truly funny moments
in it but it’s not what I would call a knee slapper. The most enjoyable part
for myself was the look at those who find art in paint thrown on a canvas or a
single square painted for those to view. Their pretentious attitude makes for
some laughs as it reflects real world elitism at its finest.
Directed capably by Terry Zwigoff there is little that truly
stands out here. In other words while the movie was enjoyable enough to watch
it was not one that I’d find myself watching repeatedly. Hated by critics and
film goers when released I’ve heard there is a cult following for the film so
those people will be thrilled to be able to own it on blu-ray finally.
Released as part of the MVD Marquee Collection the film is
available in that format and comes with a smattering of extras to watch. Those
include the featurette “Making of Art School Confidential”, a Sundance
featurette, deleted scenes, a blooper reel and the original theatrical trailer.
No comments:
Post a Comment