It’s an extremely good movie.
Not only one of the finest adaptations of a written work ever made, but also one of the best biopics, and possibly the greatest film dealing with the inner workings of the human mind, and the struggles of physical limitations.
Read the beautiful memoir first, which is a quick read, and then sit back to take in the poetic visuals of the film.
One of the greatest films to capture the essence of first-person.
A marvelously visually aesthetic film; after you see it once, if you still want to see it, see it without subtitles.
They pervasion of style can at times distance the viewer and undercut the drama and emotion in the story (that’s that I felt, but others could differ here). However, I very much liked it as it is a painting that is a film.
I agree it blew me away. Brandon pretty much said it all. See this films as soon as possible.
Matthias, I haven’t seen the film without subtitles. I’m going to try it next time.
Yes, very beautiful.
It’s also Julian Schnabel essentially saying to the world; Yeah, Basquiat and Before Night Falls weren’t just happy accidents or beginner’s luck. I am a master filmmaker, and you can all suck my balls.
Which, considering Schnabel, could be a direct quote.
Hahaha I haven’t seen Schnabel’s other films. Are they good Brandon?
Yes, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. I’m still mad it didn’t win best cinematography at the oscars a couple years ago.
Drew,
Basquiat is great, if a bit… standard, I guess would be the word. It’s his first film, and he’s clearly not comfortable with doing anything that could be seen as experimental. He basically plays it straight, is what I’m saying. What makes it great is the fact that it’s a personal requiem not only for a great artist, but for one of his friends. Plus, he gets Gary Oldman to play himself in the film, which is just a cool thing to do.
Before Night Falls, however, is an absolute masterpiece. It’s clear that he’s become 100% comfortable working in the medium of cinema, and he controls the screen like a master.
If you’ve read any of my opinions on Soderbergh’s Che on these threads, you’ll know how much it rubbed me the wrong way politically, despite thinking that the film as a whole is great. Before Night Falls is the perfect companion piece to that film, as it shows the true horror and pain created after the revolution within Cuba’s community of artists, writers, poets and homosexuals.
Thanks for all the responses. I’m not sure why I never got around to seeing it. I’ll have to pick it up soon.
Agree with you completely, Brandon. The first glimpse of the reflection of Bauby’s (Mathieu Amalric) paralyzed face early in the film is deeply shocking; and every touch of glamor and beauty in his life which you see in the film is ravaged by the certain fact of his condition. Only a master could have made this film.
Yes indeed, a masterpiece. I just love the painterly approach here – just look at how incredible those women look with Schnabel’s eye on them. I know the town where it was filmed very well, and those shots of the wide beach and the old hospital really capture the feel of the place.
I would agree that the subs are a bit intrusive. There is also an English dubbed version, which interestingly has been done by the same cast. It is quite well done (obviously, much of it didn’t have to be synced), although as may be expected some of the pronunciation is a little difficult to understand.
Schnabel is to be lauded for the decision to stick with Bauby’s PoV for such a long time at the beginning – a daring, ambitous tactic, yet one that really paid off.
See this film if you’ve yet to do so.
Justin Biberkopf
Is this a good movie?