Basquiat (1996)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 27
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 8
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.7/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 11,119
My Rating
Movie Info
Andy Warhol was a phenomenon who warrants a lot of explaining: a completely colorless mega-star celebrity, and a kind of LaBrea Tarpit for a vivid and talented collection of oddballs in the New York scene. He fostered their continued degeneration into weird lifestyles and heavy drug use; and at the same time acted as their mentor, agent, and sponsor. One artist who came to be part of Warhol's "scene" was Jean Michel Basquiat, an antisocial street-bum who went from writing graffiti on alley walls
Aug 9, 1996 Wide
Sep 3, 2002
Miramax
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Cast
-
Jeffrey Wright
Jean Michel Basquiat -
Michael Wincott
Rene Ricard -
Benicio Del Toro
Benny Dalmau -
Claire Forlani
Gina Cardinale -
David Bowie
Andy Warhol -
Dennis Hopper
Bruno Bischofberger -
Julie Araskog
Julie -
Michael Badalucco
Counterman At Deli -
Paul Bartel
Henry Geldzahler -
Michael Chow
Mr. Chow -
Hope Clarke
Matilde -
Willem Dafoe
The Electrician -
Francis Dumaurier
Giorgio -
Leonard Jackson
Jean Michel's Father -
Jean Claude Lamarre
Steve "Shenge" -
Vincent Laresca
Vincent -
Linda Larkin
Fan -
Courtney Love
Big Pink -
Elina Löwensohn
Annina Nosei -
David McDermott
Himself -
Peter McGough
Himself -
Tatum O'Neal
Cynthia Kruger -
Gary Oldman
Albert Milo -
Steve Randazzo
Maître D At Ballato's,... -
Rockets Redglare
Rockets -
Rene Rivera
Juan -
Sam Rockwell
Thug -
Christopher Walken
The Interviewer -
Richard Butler
Medieval Villager -
Alex Nemo
Nemo -
Chuck Preiffer
Tom Kruger -
Parker Posey
Mary Boone -
Ron Brice
Thug -
Paul Outlaw
Paul -
Frederick Weller
Frank -
Joseph R. Gannascoli
Guard At Hospital -
Chuck Pfeifer
Tom Kruger -
Denise Burse
Mary On TV -
Robert Alexander
Band Guy -
Jose Luis Ferrer
Medieval Villager -
Joe Glasco
Medieval Villager -
Irene Kiss
Medieval Villager -
Steven Parenago
Medieval Villager -
Vladamir Parenago
Medieval Villager -
Richard the Ox
Medieval Villager -
Esther G. Schnabel
Esther Milo -
Jack Schnabel
Jack Milo -
Lola Schnabel
Jacqueline Milo -
Olatz Maria Schnabel
Christine -
Stella Schnabel
Stella Milo -
William Seymour
Mr. Chow's Maître D', ... -
Dave Shelley
Photographer -
Tarmo Urb
Lech -
Brian Wright
Young Jean Michel
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All Critics (46) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (8) | DVD (2)
There isn't a boring shot anywhere, and writer-director Schnabel is clearly enjoying himself as he plays with expressionist sound, neo-Eisensteinian edits, and all sorts of other filmic ideas.
Top CriticModest effort to illuminate the turbulent life of the New York artist.
Schnabel made his film about Basquiat, which carries its own validation. He's also made something of a work of art in its own right.
The character on the screen (played by Jeffrey Wright)... is nothing more than a surface.
Wright is brilliant.
A stylish and interesting look at a moment in New York City's art world where everyone stopped to look at one person, who never seemd to quite fit.
Pretentious and dull.
By the end of Basquiat, there are even fewer answers than when we started.
Audience Reviews for Basquiat
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This film bolsters its indie kudos by including cameos from about every actor on the indie scene at the time, including Christopher Walken, Tatum O'Neal, Courtney Love, and Parker Posey. However, though the names in the cast are as good as they get, the film is not. There are so many unanswered questions, like what is it that makes Basquiat's art unique. We see many people praising his work, but the work doesn't speak for itself, like Jackson Pollock for example, and there aren't any moments that allow us to see what cultural or artistic vein Basquiat has tapped into. Thus, his insouciance toward the artistic process reminds me of Thierry Guetta from Exit through the Gift Shop, who emerges from that film looking like a first-class douche. Also, what could a beautiful, seemingly intelligent woman like Gina see in Basquiat? Their courtship and the end of their relationships are glossed over, and it seems like the brilliant Claire Forlani is under-used simply to fill the role of the supportive girlfriend that all films like this are required to have.
David Bowie's performance as Andy Warhol is a tired caricature; I longed to see the musician tapped out by Guy Pearce -- let a real actor take the part.
Overall, I liked the beginning, the first ten minutes or so, but the rest of the film leaves me knowing nothing new about Basquiat or why I should care.
Post-Script: the design of the Diet Pepsi can in the film didn't come out until after the film's events took place.