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Art School Confidential
Directed by: Terry Zwigoff
Starring: Max Minghella
Genre:
Drama/Comedy/ Independent
Run Time: 102
min.
Release Date:
May 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Yesterday I went to my
local art theater to watch an art film about a future artist attending
art school. Whew! I'm glad I got that out!
But lets chat about this art film, shall we? Here we go...
It's got a lot going for it. First and foremost is an impressive script.
Obviously the screenwriter, director, producer (or all three) attended
art school at some point. And making fun of the people and faculty at
such a place is where the comedy in Art School Confidential takes wing.
When Jerome (Max Minghella,
SYRIANA), the main character, begins attending his
freshman year at Strathmore Art School, he's quickly introduced to the
cliché-riddled cast (the cliché is purposeful and pulled off just as
well as the movie GALAXY QUEST). He meets the burned-out art teacher
Professor Sandiford (John Malkovich,
BURN AFTER
READING), the beautiful model that every
male wants named Audrey (Sophia Myles), the angry lesbian, the teacher's
pet/kiss-ass, the drug addled film student, and a splash of others.
There's also a strangler on the loose in the neighborhood which will
play a vital role in how Jerome's artistic dreams play out.
The ridiculousness of art school is what really makes this movie work.
Jerome is obviously very talented, but other artists whiz by him because
art is what the artists say art is. It might be a picture of a car, or a
man attaching jumper cables to his nipples and letting current run
through him, or a mound of plastic chairs.
Jerome wants to be the next Picasso. He studies hard, tries to get
noticed, but nothing seems to work. He's also a virgin and wants
desperately to get laid but with the whacked out student body at
Strathmore, he's got his work cut out for him.
As Jerome works and works, trying to become a successful artist, we get
to watch him fall into despair; he starts smoking, drinking, and visits
a washed up Strathmore graduate named Jimmy (Jim Broadbent) who gives
him some dark and grotesquely sage advice: "Are you good at 'getting on
your knees?'" (I've cleaned that up a bit, but you get the idea.) It
becomes apparent to Jerome (and the movie watcher) that he has no chance
of becoming a recognized artist ...unless something drastic happens.
Which, of course, it does (Cliché? Oh yes!) Once this "something
drastic" happens, Jerome learns the true nature of being an artist. It's
an unfortunate and incredibly funny set of circumstances that finally
thrusts Jerome into the limelight.
The level of casting in this indie film is surprisingly large and
notable. In addition to John Malkovich (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH) we see
Anjelica Huston (THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), Jim Broadbent (MOULIN ROUGE!),
Matt Keeslar (DUNE miniseries), Ethan Suplee (COLD MOUNTAIN), Steve
Buscemi (THE BIG LEBOWSKI) and several others.
This impressive cast pulled off the overly-pretentious attitudes that
flood many art schools. They were witty yet cynical which made laughing
out loud a requirement during the viewing of this amazing little flick.
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Image from Art School
Confidential
DVD cost: $11.28
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The art college in the
movie is based on the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. According the
published screenplay, the minimalist paintings Jonah brings to class
were painted by author Daniel Clowes when he was a student at the Pratt
Institute.
Movie Quote: "And
remember, only 1 out of 100 of you will ever make a living as an artist."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Art School Confidential
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