I was recently party to a discussion on the subject of artist biopics with a group of local artists and professors, one of whom has taught, from time to time, an art history course entirely through the medium of film. The students watch a film based upon the life of a famous artist (e.g. Frida, Pollock, Basquiat) then discuss how well the film captures the artist’s life and personality and the social and cultural context of the time. For a brief moment I wanted to be a student again.
So with that renewed enthusiasm, I was delighted to accompany my good friend Nora to the second of two sold-out screenings of Klimt, part of the Siskel Center’s current EU Film Festival. Ninety-seven minutes later, however, the two of us sauntered out of the cinema amongst the crowd of mostly stupefied (or was that quietly polite?) patrons leaving the cinema after 97 minutes of beautifully composed images strung together to create the most impenetrable take on the biopic I have ever seen. While I applaud any film’s resistance toward unnecessary exposition, and I thoroughly enjoy work that is purposefully challenging to navigate, I think a film named after its historical protagonist owes the audience a bit more “bio” in the “pic.” I sat down ignorant of the life of Gustav Klimt and walked out more or less the same. I might be able to survive a cocktail party conversation now, but I doubt it.
The film might be perfect for the aforementioned art school course, though, as writer/director Raúl Ruiz was clearly aiming to please an a highly literate audience. Moreover, college students are generally over-caffeinated, and I really wished I’d brought a coffee into the cinema. Never has boredom come with such beautiful art direction and cinematography. Seriously, though, I suspect even Klimt fans might be disappointed here, and not just because John Malkovich, as Klimt, is essentially John Malkovich.
Here are this morning’s Oscar-nominated films, alphabetically. The nominees for foreign language film and documentary feature are compiled at the end of the list. (Short format nominees are listed in a 
2 responses so far ↓
1 Nora Gainer // Mar 28, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Dave – you are such an amazing writer!! I loved your review (and the fact that I am mentioned:-) – I did not notice the reaction of the other viewers – so interesting. I found myself craving to take that class and thinking – why don’t we start it ourselves?? in your free time?
2 Maggie // Mar 29, 2007 at 9:45 am
Dave, perhaps Corey would be interested in joining the discussion?
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