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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?

[–] mikethemartian (6066) 5 years ago

The Moon and Sixpence with George Sanders

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I'd completely forgotten about The Moon and Sixpence. I'm a fan of Somerset Maugham, and read it along with many others, and saw the film. I need to watch that one again. It was very good!

[–] mikethemartian (6066) 5 years ago

I have never read the book. I just happened to catch the movie on TCM a few years ago. I thought George Sanders was fantastic.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Johnny Cash: American Rebel (2015)

[–] nyctc7 (41244) 5 years ago

Herb and Dorothy
Who the $&% Is Jackson Pollock?

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Herb and Dorothy sounds interesting. Shoot, just checked and it's not available on Prime :|

Don't know Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? either, but I did see Pollock, with Ed Harris. It was very good.

[–] dmac8 (5050) 5 years ago

Loving Vincent (2017)

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 5 years ago

Documentaries are a little bit more difficult for me to rate. I seem to either give them a great score, or a low score. Obviously, my taste for the artist matters, and as long as they don't mess it up, chances are I'll like it...

-Bill Hicks: American
-Totally Bill Hicks
-Doors: Mr. Mojo Risin' - The Story of L.A. Woman (and any documentary on The Doors and/or Jim Morrison)
-Pink Floyd - Which One's Pink?
-John Cassavetes - A Constant Forget -- A favorite, but just as interesting as a defiant man and artist.
-John Cassavetes - I'm Almost Not Crazy
-Listen To Me, Marlon - Brando's dictations over the years
-The Life and Times of Luchino Visconti - one of my favorite directors
-Stanley Kubrick - A Life In Pictures
-I'm A Born Liar - Fellini isn't one of my favorite directors, despite "La Strada" being my #2, but he is interesting.
-Jaco - wonderful bass player who was just as interesting.
-Lynch - I fell out of love with surrealism quickly, still love his two "normal" movies. He's fascinating, even though he says he has the answer for the world, but first, $49.95 for your very own mantra! (I'll save you the money -- take a deep breath, and then keep doing it. Close your eyes, dark room, no other sounds)

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Jaco Pastorius? He was amazing. Very, very innovative. I don't know anything about his life, aside from his music.

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 5 years ago

Yes. I think its on YouTube, I've seen it a few times. He's an original, so much that he, one of the best bass players ever, couldn't get a job, and became homeless. There's also the "infamous" videos of him at his house with a few "friends" which led to legal buyoffs of this VHS, but is a little interesting once you get to know him.

[–] LauraGrace (15570) 5 years ago

he played with Joni Mitchell.

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

That is very sad. What a waste. I don't throw the G word around much, but he really was a genius.

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 5 years ago

I know what you mean.. Nowadays, who ISNT a genius.

Jaco definitely was, and a fascinating human being. Very sad he was killed by a bouncer after many strikes to the head after he tried to sneak in to either see or jam with Carlos Santana.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71750) 5 years ago

I'm unaware of this guy but after reading a little about him I'll check out his music

Beaten to death at 35...that's pretty horrible!

[–] Kazak (2007) 5 years ago

I agree, that is somewhat unfortunate about Lynch. I still think he's an amazing artist, and I personally LOVE his surrealist films. There're a couple a films about his artistry, David Lynch: The Art Life, and Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch.

https://moviechat.org/tt1691152/David-Lynch-The-Art-Life
https://moviechat.org/tt0192470/Pretty-as-a-Picture-The-Art-of-David-Lynch

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 5 years ago

I believe I saw that, too. Is that the one where his father tells David, "You better not have any kids" (while his girlfriend was newly pregnant)?

I love "The Elephant Man" and "The Straight Story" but not have seen "Blue Velvet" in almost 20 years, but not because of him or the movie (maybe it was the girl I saw it with?)

[–] Kazak (2007) 5 years ago

Not sure, been a while...

[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

Frida
Pollack
Moulin Rouge
Basquiat
Mr. Turner
Carravagio
Modigliani

There are the ones that I have seen. I'm sure there are many more films about artists.

[–] jriley555 (7048) 5 years ago

Mr. Turner was beautiful. Very faithful to its epoch, marvelous cinematography. Highly recommended.

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 5 years ago

It's funny you mention Van Gogh - he's the only painter I've been interested in. I was just telling my parents how while we were waiting in line, I was looking at these really thin paperback books. I was surprised when my dad said "Choose 3" (there must have been a sale), and Van Gogh was the one I wanted most (I also got Gandhi and Mozart), and it was the first time that I heard about suicide, especially shooting himself. The ear-cutting was also ear-opening for a 7-yr old, whose love was basketball and drawing. Van Gogh's paintings were very psychedelic looking and still enjoyable to look at it.

"Lust For Life" is my favorite featured film of Van Gogh. I saw a French one from the late 80s entitled, "Van Gogh" (or his full name), as well as "Vincent and Theo", another Altman movie I liked.

The crazy thing is, I've been to Amsterdam SIX times, but never went to the museum. I figured it would come up between a fellow backpacker, and never got the chance.

[–] Knish (1721) 5 years ago

Velvet buzzsaw