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Movies or documentaries about artists

posted 5 years ago by Catbookss (13664)
30 replies | jump to latest

Night before last I watched James McNeill Whistler and the Case for Beauty. It's an outstanding documentary!

Last night I watched At Eternity's Gate, a film about Van Gogh and his brother Theo, starring Willem Dafoe and Rupert Friend. It was very good 👍

Yesterday I started watching Vincent and Theo, Robert Altman's multi-parter starring Tim Roth and Paul Rhys. Not sure how I missed this one. I remember when it came out and I wanted to see it, then ??? for all these years? Anyway, from what I've seen so far, it too is excellent.

What are some of your favourite films or documentaries about artists?

[–] somesunnyday (2078) 5 years ago

Seraphine is excellent

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

It looks good. Thanks for the recommendation.

Kind of reminds me of Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson, although that's a documentary. A fascinating one.

PACKED IN A TRUNK: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson is a documentary film that will celebrate the long-buried talent of the painter Edith Lake Wilkinson who was part of the Provincetown art scene in the early 20th century and produced an astounding body of work. In 1924 she was committed to an asylum -- perhaps with the help of the family lawyer who was busily siphoning off her funds. The lawyer had also objected to Edith’s “close and constant contact” with her companion Fannie. Once she was put away, Edith’s work and all her worldly possessions were packed into trunks and shipped off to a relative in West Virginia where they sat in an attic collecting dust for the next 40 years. Edith was never heard from again.

[–] somesunnyday (2078) 5 years ago

Thanks for your recommendation too. Looks interesting

[–] Kazak (2033) 5 years ago

I reckon The House That Jack Built would fit here. It's a tough watch though...

[–] ShogunofYonkers (73904) 5 years ago

As Slimone said Basquiat was a very solid drama about a major artist
A sad story...
He wiped himself out on the heroin...overdosed to death in his late 20s
2 years ago one of his paintings sold for over a $110 million...God and the Universe have a savage sense of humor:/

The Whole Wide World (96) was pretty amazing as well and starred Vincent D'Onofrio as the awkward and ultimately suicidal great writer R. E. Howard
It tells the story of Robert E. Howard (the short story writer who created such fine fictional characters as Conan the Barbarian, Solomon Kane, Kull the Conqueror and a bunch of gangster and champion boxer characters) as he reaches his final days, obsessed with his mother, probably mentally ill and smitten with a local school teacher lady...He was known to be a bit off and one day he ate the business end of his pistol

Howard commanded the English language with an economy of prose as did Steinbeck, London and Hemingway...
Sure, Howard wrote for the men's mags of the day and most of his shorts were paid by the word (under 10,000 words!) but they were inventive, thrilling and I think pretty brilliant

I'ts been assumed he expected to end his life when he lost his mom and thought his father might join him in suicide...the entire affair was a terrible waste

[–] keybored (2657) 5 years ago

https://youtu.be/sPkoW4cmqT8

[–] greenbudgie (2355) 5 years ago

Mr Turner (2014) about JMW Turner.
Lust For Life (1956) about Vincent Van Gogh.

[–] chilone (17417) 5 years ago

Believe it or not, the Van Gogh episode of Doctor Who is really good. The ending brought tears to my eyes!

[–] chilone (17417) 5 years ago

I saw a Netflix documentary on H.R. Giger that was very interesting. What and enigmatic fellow he was!