Films About Tortured Artists

[Chopper]

I was thinking the other night that there seems to be a genre of films out there about tortured artists, you know the kind that lived on the brink of sanity, defied the laws of society, made great art, but in the end their inner demons destroyed them. Here's a list of films that I think embody this genre:

1. Basquiat-Came out in 1996. The director was a personnal friend of Basquiat, a graffiti painter who literally rose from the gutter in New York's, 80's, art scene. I'm not much of a fan of abstract art but this movie made me atleast appreciate Basquiat for his accomplishments.

2. Bird-Excellent film! Directed by Clint Eastwood with an excellent performance by Forest Whitaker. It's about Charlie Parker, although Parker was a struggling heroin and alcohol addict he was one hell of a sax player. Great heartbeaking film.

3. Pollock-Kinda slow moving, but a good little film nevertheless. Ed Harris plays Pollock, who was impovershed and an alcoholic painter (noticing a trend here). His art was along the post-modern abstract line.

4. Love is the Devil-Just saw this one recently, man! It was a wild ride. It's about Francis Bacon, a legendary alcoholic, gay, surrealist painter who achieved success in 70's England. Love is very much different from other biographical pictures because it's not so much focused on the people or events around Bacon's life, but rather the extremely dark and tortured person he was. Even though they don't show a single Bacon painting in the movie, you truly get a feel of the darkness and depravity Bacon reached deep down in his soul to use as his inspiration for his art. **** out of ****.

On the B-movie side:
5. Bucket of Blood-Old Roger Corman 'B' about a sculptor who uses real humans as his subjects.

Can anyone think of any other great "tortured artist" films?



Post Edited (01-25-04 15:57)

[The Burgomaster]

How about the segment of NEW YORK STORIES starring Nick Nolte?

Then you also have COLOR ME BLOOD RED . . .

[Genetic Mishap]

I remember thinking of Edward Scissorhands as a tortured artist, misunderstood by all...

[Deej]

Let's Get Lost- Chet Baker

[ulthar]

Don't ask me why, but when I read this, I thought of "Bar Fly" with Mickey Rourke.

[Chopper]

LoL, I suppose if you consider regurgitating an art-form then why not!?

[Chopper]

"NY Stories," was this a tv show or feature length?

[Deej]

A Mickey Rourke film is a film in which the "artist" tortures the viewer.

[Chopper]

LoL, true dat Deej.

[Chopper]

He did make some kickass bush animals!

[JohnL]

Ed Wood shows the decline of Bela Lugosi.

Quills is about the Marquis De Sade trying to continue his writings in prison.

[Eirik]

Norman Bates, the ultimate practicioner of the art of taxidermy.

[The Burgomaster]

Chopper:

NEW YORK STORIES is a feature length film.  I have never seen the whole movie, but my professor showed the Nick Nolte segment in a film class.

[Chopper]

HAHA! I think it's even safe to say that norman bates is the grandfather of the "psychos with oedipus complexes" genre of horror movies.

[Chopper]

That's a very good example, although I'm not sure how tortured Ed Wood was. He seemed really convinced that he was making great films.