Painting a World
Added 5/13/2009
"Pollock" is an underrated masterpiece by actor/director Ed Harris. It is a mesmerizing portrayal of the 20th century's most polarizing artists. Whether you enjoy or dislike Pollock's paintings, this movie is quite moving. Ed Harris studied the character of Pollock deeply--the rough Wyoming artist who hit it big in New York City. He shows Pollock in all his aspects--from an admirable artist to a violent alcoholic to an overweight womanizer. Marcia Gay Harden is equally great as Pollock's pained wife, Lee Krasner.
"Pollock" is not only historically accurate, but authentic when dealing with the characters' emotional struggles. Pollock is not without his faults--alcoholism among them. Harris' real-life wife, Amy Madigan, stars as socialite Peggy Guggenheim, and Val Kilmer stars as Willem De Kooning. Jennifer Connelly appears later as Pollock's much younger mistress, who supplants Krasner in Pollock's passions.
"Pollock" is an artful work, painting on the big screen!
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Good Portrait Of A Great Artist & Lousy Person
Added 4/10/2009
Jackson Pollock was not a likable person. He was an alcoholic, an adulterer, an egotist and simply a plain jerk. He also was a pioneer in the field of modern art, so he became famous and hence, even had this movie about his life. I found it very interesting.
Ed Harris was a good choice for the role. Harris, who looks like Pollock, did a fine job of portraying this "tormented" soul, a word critics love to use for famous artists (see Van Gogh).
****possible spoiler**** This movie actually inspired me to become an artist and I did a handful of Pollock imitations, several of which actually sold for a decent price. I love Pollock's work, and I enjoy character studies of people on film, but this gets a little sordid as the film goes on with a definitely-unhappy ending.
Hat's off to Marcia Gay Harden for her performance as Pollock's wife. She has the New York City accent down pat. She is shown worshiping her husband and it's painful to see her get hurt.
The story is a bit soap operish but if you enjoy art, and especially Pollock's work, you'll find this story fascinating.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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EXCELLENT film! Could watch it over and over!!!
Added 3/2/2009
I don't know what the reviewer "Gordon Larko" is smoking. For some reason, he feels compelled to leave the EXACT SAME horrible review and 1 STAR rating for all GAY-THEMED movies. Probably a "personal problem" of his. Hopefully this review will help correct this imbalance. I can't believe AMAZON is allowing this GAY BASHER to use their website as a venue to spread his hate.
By the way, This is an absolutely WONDERFUL movie!
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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HARRIS IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT IN POLLOCK
Added 2/8/2009
Ed Harris was wonderful behind, and in front of the camera in this riveting portrait of a troubled, though incredibly gifted artist, and Marcia Gay Hardin is pitch-perfect as Pollock's wife Lee Krasner. It's nice to see a biographical film that doesn't sugar-coat its subject. If happy endings, and lollipop romances are your thing, you won't like this. POLLOCK has an almost surgical intensity to it, and the characters are full of hard edges, moodiness, and, or depression. Harris, along with his stellar cast, captures both the beauty, and ugliness of the abstract expressionist, and his circle. A great film, and a great film about art.
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A decent film that feels almost unnecessary...
Added 11/13/2008
I have made it pretty clear that I am a huge fan of the biopic. I love films depicting real life heroes and villains because their stories are presented in such a captivating and raw way. It's just a thrill to see that fact is far more interesting than fiction.
Sometimes.
The problem I have with `Pollock' is that it is not presented in that way; not at all. Sure, it has its interesting moments, and the acting is commanding to an extent, but nothing in `Pollock' feels necessary. The fact remains that by the time the credits have begun to roll you have forgotten entirely what made Jackson Pollock's life so important in the first place.
What was the point in telling his story?
See, here is my thing. In order for the said biopic to be worth its weight it has to feel like it has a reason to be told. Is their story inspirational, tragic, prophetic, educational; does it present the audience with a clear cut reason to be intrigued? I recently made a similar criticism on the movie `Bird' which I felt failed to convince us as to the reason Charley Parker's life was so `interesting'. I have the same thing to say about `Pollock'. Yes, he was a tormented artist who was possibly bi-polar and was definitely an alcoholic, but honestly, so aren't half of every other artist, musician or actor out there today and of yesteryear.
What makes Jackson Pollock so special?
I'm still waiting for the answer.
Like `Bird', `Pollock' also suffers from spurts of confusion within its storyline, but it is no where near as all over the place as Eastwood's insanely ridiculous direction. Ed Harris has a deep passion for his character and his film, and while it doesn't all seem to jive he does at least work hard to present it in a way that is, for the most part, understandable. The film also has a nice feel and flow to it. I was never bored, I will admit that. I wanted to follow the film, I wanted to keep watching. The acting was also quite good. Harris and Harden were both excellent. I don't know if I would go as far as to say they were Oscar worthy (nomination worthy, maybe, but win worthy, no) but I was impressed and excited to watch them.
In the end my biggest complaint is that the reasons for Harris's passion for Pollock are not made clear to us. We know that he is obsessed with this man and his work and telling his story, but why? Why was he so interesting? Why did his story need to be told? At least with movies like `Walk the Line' and `Cinderella Man' we are presented with a reason to admire or at least be engaged in these men (they overcame adversity, they worked to clean up their lives, they inspired millions, yada yada) and I'm not saying that just because a life ends tragically does not mean that their story is not worth telling (films like `Boys Don't Cry' or `Monster' cover that department and offer characters with little moral values) but what is always important to remember is that the audience has to feel a reason to watch, and `Pollock' doesn't provide us with that reason.
I don't feel that I learn anything from Jackson Pollock or that I gain anything from watching this film, and that is sad because I'm sure there is much to be gathered from the man. Ed Harris surely feels that way. I just wish I knew why.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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DESPERATE SANITY?
Added 2/15/2002
Since documentaries are featured as extras on many DVDs, there's a growing appetite for this cinematic art form. Criterion is feeding that craving with a series of fascinating glimpses into extraordinary real lives.
The artistically apposite worlds of Jackson Pollock, and Robert Crumb are revealed in "JACKSON POLLOCK: LOVE AND DEATH ON LONG ISLAND" and "THE CONFESSIONS OF ROBERT CRUMB". Striking views of Pollock's work are commented on by artists including his wife, painter Lee Krasner. Ed Harris, the star and director of the Academy Award© winning film "Pollock" discusses Pollock's blazing rise to fame and his difficulties coping with it.
A sad look at the destructive, hyper life of a madman. Is being an artist, by definition, a kind of insanity?
8 out of 19 people found this helpful.
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Finally a Pollock movie that keeps us awake!
Added 10/13/2000
WOW! Though this is not actually the movie Pollock, and actually a 40 minute biography/precursor to the movie, it was wonderful! It had several interviews with freinds, fellow artists and other misc. aquaintences of Jackson's in it from Ruth Klingman to Kirk Varnedoe. They were short to the point and all very interesting, especially the Cedar Bar bar tender stories! In addition it had footage from the famous Hans Namuth movies of him at work and when he painted on glass while the camera was underneath(very hard to find footage!) This is a must to any Pollock freak. Caution there is some language unsuitable for classroom usage. Well worth the money if you like JP.
44 out of 45 people found this helpful.
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