- Starring: Julian Schnabel, Al Pacino, Willem Dafoe, Bono, Emmanuelle Seigner
- Director: Pappi Corsicato
- Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region A/1
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Rated: Not Rated
- Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Release Date: November 7, 2017
- Run Time: 85 minutes
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait is
fittingly named, diving into the personal life of the subject before defining
his significance in the art world. Filled with intimate interviews with family
members and friends, the documentary is far more concerned with the personality
and approach to life that Schnabel takes than it is his actual work. Eventually
the movie shows us his work, but rather than contextualize the significance of
his paintings and films, it chooses to focus on the creative process at work.
In this sense, A Private Portrait successfully lives up
to its title, allowing us proximity in the quiet moments of Schnabel’s life. And
even when exploring his art, the film quietly captures the work ethics that go
into bringing his unique vision to life, but somehow Schnabel still remains
something of a mystery. Not only does the film refuse to examine the artist’s
life beyond the surface, we also are given little insight into the importance
of his work. Instead, much of the movie feels like a memorial to the man rather
than an honest examination. It has the feel of a movie made to please the
subject, more fan adoration than thoughtful analysis.
The
one-dimensional approach to the biopic documentary may work for existing fans
of the artist. They are less likely to need a more complete analysis of the
work, and may not mind the film’s refusal to criticize anything about
Schnabel’s life or art. Those unaware of his significance may find the brief description
of his background intriguing, along with the unconventional approach to the
creative process, but may also find the narrative occasionally slips into a
kind of monotony in the constant stream of interviewees offering endless
praise.
The other surprising
disappointment of the film is director Pappi Corsicato’s lack of visual
excitement. Even when photographing some of Schnabel’s most dynamic art, the
cinematography in the film feels remarkably uninspired. I kept waiting for the
film to adopt even a fraction of Schnabel’s innovative style, but it remained
drably generic. Even the structure of the film seems expected, plodding along
with a formulaic approach that seems contradictory to the subject. In the end,
the greatest accomplishment of the documentary is its ability to inspire
audiences to seek out Schnabel’s work on their own, if only to obtain a better
understanding of it than Corsicato is able to provide. What we are able to
garner from Julian Schnabel is the
passion that he has for his art, which remains a bit mysterious even in the
examination of this personal approach to creativity.
The Blu-ray
offers little more than the occasionally interesting high definition shot of
one of Schnabel’s paintings. There are no special features. A booklet insert
includes a chapter index and a few production stills.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 5.5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 0/10
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