Review of Basquiat (1996) by Jennifer A — 05 Apr 2006

[b]Life is Beautiful[/b], directed by Roberto Benigni, is a comedy set during WWII. Roberto Benigni stars as Guido, a bumbling, yet charming waiter in hot pursuit of schoolteacher Dora (Nicoletta Braschi). Anti-Semitism is rising, but Guido remains oblivious, or eternally optimistic, depending on your view. The two marry and produce a son Giosue. The film fast forwards five years as the three end up in a concentration camp. Guido manages to hide Giosue in the men's barracks and pretends everything is a game to protect his young son. The winning "team" will receive a real tank.

A comedy inspired by the Holocaust is a rather bold or insensitive move, depending on one's perspective. Critics mostly praised this film, but I never found it charming. I never warmed up to the Guido character before the second half of the film, which is set inside a concentration camp, so that pretty much eliminated any chance of me accepting, much less enjoying, the most controversial part of the movie. I guess you could say I was even offended by it's mockery. The film had so many implausible scenarios necessary to force a laugh, something I didn't do much of, and the end result kind of disgusted me, despite the happy ending for the boy.

[b]The Cider House Rules[/b], directed by Lasse Hallstrom, is a drama set during WWII. The central character is Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), a young man raised in an orphanage. Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine), who runs the orphanage, treats Homer like his own son. Dr. Larch even teaches Homer medical care, and Homer becomes like an assistant, helping to care for ill children and the women who come to the orphanage to give birth, or illegally abort. When a WWII pilot named Wally (Paul Rudd) brings his girlfriend Candy (Charlize Theron) to St. Cloud for an abortion, Homer connects with the young couple and decides it's time to leave. Homer ends up working for Wally's mother in an apple mill, doing manual labor and staying in the Cider House with the other laborers which include foreman Mr. Rose (Delroy Lindo) and his daughther (Erykah Badu) where his medical training will later be put to use. Meanwhile Homer falls in love with Candy after Wally returns to the war.

The film starts off promising enough. The first part of the film, set inside an oprhanage, is quite good, especially Michael Caine, who won an oscar for his role. However the second half of the film, set at the apple farm, feels entirely forced. The very ineffective love story between Homer and Candy seems aimed at acheiving a mass audience. The entire "Cider House" plot between Homer and the other laborerers (particularly father and daughter Rose) is contrived, failing to deliver on it's intended message. There is one half of a good movie here, but the rest is almost unwatchable. Too bad.

[b]Basquiat[/b], directed by Julian Schnabel, chronicles the life of artist Jean Michel Basquiat, who emerged from oblivion in the eighties to become one of the world's most celebrated artists in his early twenties. Jeffery Wright stars as Basquiat, an anti-social young man who first became known for his street art. A chance meeting with Andy Warhol (David Bowie) helped accelerate his ascent in the art world; the two becoming close friends. Yet with fame came emptiness. The film features an impressive supporting cast of Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Hopper, Claire Forlani, Parker Posey, Michael Wincott, Gary Oldman, and Courtney Love. It's a somewhat interesting film lacking in depth.

[b]Jesus' Son[/b], directed by Alison Maclean, follows the journey of a drug addict nicknamed FH (short for fuckhead) during the seventies. Billy Crudup stars as FH, and the film begins with his meeting of Michelle (Samantha Morton) who would become his girlfriend and introduce him to heroin. Most of the film centers around FH, his pursuit of drugs, his slacking, and his contemplating the meaning of life. The best part of the film is the relationship between FH and Michelle. The film is loosely sctructured and does have some indie charm, but it completely falls of the map in the third act, enough so that I can't recommend it. Supporting cast includes Denis Leary, Dennis Hopper, Holly Hunter, Jack Black and Will Patton.