|
|
Photo © Sony Picture classics
|
|
Art School Confidential
Comedy(eclectic); Coming of age, college.
1hr. 42 mins.
Wednesday May 10th, 2006; platform
MPAA:R for language including sexual references, nudity and a scene of violence
Sony Picture classics
|
|
|
Starring: Max Minghella, John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Sophia Myles, Joel David Moore
Directed By: Terry Zwigoff
Produced By: John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith
Screenplay By: Daniel Clowes. Adapted from his Graphic Novel.
|
|
|
Reviewed
By: Wellington Lee
Rated 2.84/5
In a Nutshell:5yrs. after cult graphic novelist Clowes and Dir. Zwigoff delighted critics and audiences with Ghost World,we have this biting, cynical and riotous work. Lead Minghella,with THE poutiest lips on a guy,is perfectly cast and directed.Malkovich and Broadbent provide strong support.
Will delight the young, urban hip; and lovers of repetitive, sharp irony; and humor in quick vignettes.CAVEAT:full, but non sexual nudity:Art models.
Feature review:A graphic novel has again become the source of the brilliant and acclaimed Director, Terry
Zwigoff's, latest work. Zwigoff has hit two home runs. First with his 1994 documentary "Crumb",
about that eclectic and extremely talented graphic artist("American Splendor" was inspired by this work).In '01's Academy Award® nominated
"Ghost World"(Steve Buscemi),Zwigoff first adapted a Clowes graphic novel ,with an oddball adult
record collector, opposite an identity searching teenage girl. And he made it work. In "Art
School..", graphic novelist Daniel Clowes wrote his own adapted screenplay. Dir. Zwigoff
added
more irreverence and cynicism, with the creative producing team's(Malkovich)input.
Expectations are high for "Art School..", but I suspect that the plethora of characters, sharp
cynicism and meandering focus, will limit appeal to the hip young, and sophisticated Art house
audiences.
Protagonist Jerome(Max Minghella)is a shy, awkward freshman at Strathmore Art
school. Screenwriter Clowes quickly introduces a pivotal and contemptuous student character
"Bardo"(Joel David Moore),
who is structured to convey the theme of the various motivations for attending Art schools, in
the first place. Instead of narration, Dir. Zwigoff stages hilarious mini scene 'vignettes',
of
these 4 types. The empty nest "Mom", seeking purpose;the professors' brownnoser; Jerome
himself, as the Virgin looking to score(depicted in 3 short, riotous scenes with stereo typed,
arty coeds);and lastly, this "theme narrator" character as himself. Bardo drops out and
changes majors over and over.Dir.Zwigoff and Clowes shooting script of vignettes of Jerome's dates with three disturbed coeds,prompted by instigator Bardo, are hilarious.This suggestible romantic,stumbles through encounters with his wacky film maker roomate and these students,as he
naively circles through adult artists' and professors' agendas.
Actor Minghella, in his first Big Screen lead, is a great type cast, both physically and
temperamentally, as this shy and impressionable hero. He has the prettiest cupid lips for a
young man, that I can think of.He can tweak his eyes in a heart beat, to either convey wonder
or
infatuation.Naive Jerome is alternately hit on by Art prof.Sandford (Malkovich),or gullibly
buys into the berating tirade of a successful alumni. This "Bushmiller" character is as
vitriolic and disdainful of the student body and older profs. who teach "..for the health
insurance..", as Tom Cruise's obnoxious men's seminar leader in "Magnolia". Prof. Sanford
paints perfect, yet simplistic triangles, condescending to Jerome as he encourages him to
"..experiment"(Jerome naively interprets this ’pass’, as creative art
experimentation).This young protagonist has the only immediately recognizable talent,and yet is
jumped on by
classmates during open critique time.
Jim Broadbent lends powerful support, representing the alcoholic,washed up
artist.He trashes Art and life in blistering tirades.Sophia Miles seems a little too old and mature for her Art model role. Jerome fixates on her
as his romantic, ideal mate.He lets her lead him around, tolerating her ex girl lover's
confrontation. But again, this naive and timid boy, misses her cue for him to make a
move. Jerome is later devastated, when she offhandedly goes out with an undercover cop turned painter.
There is an extraneous, tongue in cheek subplot, about a serial killer stalking Art student
coeds,that goes nowhere.In Ghost World('01), Zwigoff had his disdainful art student Enid.We
were sucked in to her fascination with "losers", and the heart with which he depicted her
crush
on eccentric Steve Buscemi."Art School.." tries to cover all aspects of the false
dilettantism of its characters, with an often tiresome cynicism. There are numerous hilarious
characterizations, that will delight young, hip audiences;and those who cannot get enough dry
wit and darting irony.I suspect it will fare best in the DVD market.
|
|
|
Questions & Feedback |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
(Click
here for more movie reviews)
|
|
|
