Review of Downtown '81 (2001) by Austin I — 13 Oct 2007

This film really works more as a documentary than as a narrative film. It felt like "Slacker"--which I did not care for--set in the lower east side during the early 80s. The music and art showcased was fresh, but the pace was piddling.

The whole thing was redubbed because, as I understand it, there was not enough cash to fund post so the film went underground for about two decades and when it surfaced the audio was lost. Pretty much everyone filmed came back to rerecord their part, except for Basquiat--pushing roses.

Saul Williams, a death rattle, or something of the sort, of the vibrant, vagrant art scene to which Basquiat belonged, comes in to record JM's part. I guess that was a good choice. I reiterate: documentary in film's clothing.