Basquiat (1996) Any opinions? comments?

[Dr.Frankenstein]

A very interesting and sedate film,which I saw in 1996. "Basquiat" as a person? from what I viewed in the film,a very unflattering portrayal (but who knows what liberties were taken with his personal life rt?) As an Artist however-very unique and quite different from any other I've seen over the years. Jean-Michel Basquiat 12/22/60 - 8/12/88 RIP +++++++++ Look at that cast!!! I really enjoyed seeing all the cool actors/actresses making cameos throughout the film. *** 1/2 outta 5 stars 2 ACTORS NOT LISTED ON THE POSTERS ARE Christopher Walken and Willem DaFoe
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[The Postmaster General]

I dig this film - picked it up for in a 10 for $10 movie bin back in 98 or 99 (VHS) - The film is very... sedate is a good choice of words. And understated, which I always like in movies. Honestly I'd have to rewatch it again to comment further, other than saying I wasn't familiar with Basquiat's work pre-film. I do remember it painting him a bad light, but I always take that aside with biopics, since largely most of the ones, especially about underground figures, seem to show an ugly underbelly, but I think it goes hand in hand with the nature of creating provocative work that endures - sort of that metaphor that you can't have a beautiful flower without starting with dirt.

[Cop No. 633]

It's a very good film. This was the first movie I saw with Jeffrey Wright and I liked him immediately as Basquiat. It's a very natural performance and like you guys said, a bit sedated. The movie has a good pace though. I like how it starts from his Samo project to selling cardboard paintings to Andy Warhol to him running his work in galleries. It must have been mind blowing to start off as a punk graffiti artist and suddenly make it in the posh art scene.

It feels authentic. Julian Schnabel knew Basquiat and his world very well. He puts the right touches and never goes over the top. The movie is very bare bones. It feels more like Basuiat/Wright bring the style to the movie rather than Schnabel trying to make Basquiat look cool by stylizing the movie.

I also really liked Michael Wincott in this movie. He's really solid as Rene Richard. He's so convincing. Wincott's very entertaining in the role as is everybody who gets a minor role like David Bowie and Dennis Hopper.

[Monotreme]

It's a very good film. This was the first movie I saw with Jeffrey Wright and I liked him immediately as Basquiat. It's a very natural performance and like you guys said, a bit sedated. The movie has a good pace though. I like how it starts from his Samo project to selling cardboard paintings to Andy Warhol to him running his work in galleries. It must have been mind blowing to start off as a punk graffiti artist and suddenly make it in the posh art scene.

It feels authentic. Julian Schnabel knew Basquiat and his world very well. He puts the right touches and never goes over the top. The movie is very bare bones. It feels more like Basuiat/Wright bring the style to the movie rather than Schnabel trying to make Basquiat look cool by stylizing the movie.

I also really liked Michael Wincott in this movie. He's really solid as Rene Richard. He's so convincing. Wincott's very entertaining in the role as is everybody who gets a minor role like David Bowie and Dennis Hopper.

A fantastic analysis, and pretty much my feelings exactly. I first saw this a couple years ago after I saw The Diving Bell and the Butterfly which blew me away and inspired me to go back and check out Schnabel's previous two films. I found Basquiat, his directorial debut, to be surprisingly visual potent - I guess it makes sense, considering Schnabel's background as a painter, but the film really was, first and foremost, just a really well-made, well-shot, well-acted piece of filmmaking. It's one of the most fascinating cinematic depictions of the art world, and the cast (and cameos) are all really fantastic. I mean, you can't go wrong with David Bowie playing Andy Warhol, now can you?

8/10.