Art School Confidential is the story of Jerome Platz, who from a young age has aimed to become a world famous artist. He has the talent to make his dream a reality. The trouble is, his prestigious art school is oblivious to it, preferring the meaningless drivel of 'tortured souls' to his own work. But on campus there lies a serial killer, and in the killer's wake may come the opportunity Jerome has waited for his whole life.
Art School Confidential is a blatant swipe at the world of art., and it trots out cliches and stereotypes in droves to continuously remind us of of the fact. There is the bisexual talentless teacher who can paint nothing but triangles but considers each a masterpiece; the viscously butch and angry lesbians, the detached hippy, the 'Empty Nest-er' who returns to school, the talentless hack who is idolized by everyone - the list goes on.
It's not a bad film at all for 80% of its length, although the serial killer angle is introduced early and awkwardly. [Watching the film you get the notion that it could be explained away as a stray plotline from a movie playing two blocks over.]
There's talent to spare here. Angelica Huston, Steve Buscemi, and John Malkovich do a wonderful job of bringing this dysfunctional art school to life (esp. Malkovich - the man has a gift, he does he does).
Sophia Myles, who plays Jerome's love interest, is a stunning woman who looks rather like Kate Winslet. Her performance is fine but the writers fail her. His attraction to her is his motivation, sure, but what is her attraction to him? She is infinitely more experienced, articulate, and mature than Jerome and seems to place no special emphasis or interest in his naivete, his looks, or his art. What gives?
Again, an entertaining film for 80% of its length. Scratch that, for 95% of its run time. Only at the very end, when Jermome gets his wish, do all the movie's flaws come scratching and clawing to the surface in a mad rush.
2.5 out of 4, 68 out of 100.
2 comments:
Hmm...although I love Steve Buscemi, and like him in anything I've seen him in, this one sounds like a pass for me.
You seem to watch a lot of rather obscure and unusual movies. Have you ever heard of "The Saddest Music in the World" with Isabella Rossellini? My sister loaned it to us a while back, and after it was over, Ken and I looked at each other and I said, "I don't think we'll be borrowing anymore movies from Diana!" It was one of the most bizarre movies I've ever seen, although I thought the visual of the ale-filled glass legs was pretty cool. Di is my fellow horror movie buff, and we love those, but that one was just bizarre!
Beth
"...viscously butch..."? Either do a little impact adjstment to your spell checker or explain this intriguing phrase.
;^) Jan the Gryphon
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