Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pagePollock (2000)
Director: Ed Harris
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
1941: an artist on the verge of a nervous breakthrough. When Lee Krasner sidles through Jackson Pollock's door, he's nursing an apparently permanent hangover. She's interested in his work, and in him - reflecting his own priorities perfectly. Krasner takes him in hand, introducing him to the people who will break him: the critics , the dealers, the patrons. Pollock will piss in Peggy Guggenheim's fireplace - and she will love him for it. He will become the first modern American art star, embodying all the contradictions buried in those words. This impressive and absorbing film is evidently a labour of love for Ed Harris, who spent ten years and his own money getting Pollock to the screen. The result is a watchful patient movie, more interested in observation than explanation - less a biopic than a portrait. The approach is in keeping with Pollock's pronouncements, if not abstract expressionism per se: 'Paint is paint, surface is surface.' Harden invests all manner of subtleties in Krasner (winning an Oscar in the process), and the support from Tambor, Madigan and Connelly is first rate - but the film is at its best regarding the artist's relationship to the canvas: Pollock sizing up a frame, his super-confident approach to a line, or that cold winter morning when a dollop of white paint drips from his brush.Author: TCh
Cast & crew
Director: Ed Harris
Producer: Fred Berner, Ed Harris, John Kilick, James Francis Trezza
Cast: Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Tom Bower, Jennifer Connelly, Bud Cort, Val Kilmer, Robert Knott, David Leary, Amy Madigan, Jeffrey Tambor full cast
Duration: 123 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now