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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Vincent Van Gogh
Paul Gauguin
Dr. Gachet
Theo Van Gogh
Christine
Roulin
Critic Reviews for Lust for Life
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The Best Actor Oscar that year went to Yul Brynner for his broad emoting in The King and I, but Douglas -- in one of the defining performances of his career -- would have been a far more deserving winner.
June 25, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review… -
Kirk Douglas could be a little much, but that proves to be the right amount in Lust for Life...
March 29, 2018 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… -
One of Minnelli's best pictures, a visually stunning portrait of Van Gogh, splendidly played by Kirk Douglas
April 3, 2011 | Rating: A | Full Review… -
Horrifying - but informative - tragic biography of Van Gogh, with a look at his painting technique and location filming of the places he lived.
July 18, 2009 | Full Review… -
A competently made and acted biopic on the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh (Kirk Douglas), that's nevertheless uninspiring.
April 25, 2009 | Rating: B | Full Review… -
The movie, attractive as it may be, never 'breaks through the iron wall' between what is felt and what is expressed, the very wall that van Gogh himself strove to overcome.
January 28, 2006 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Lust for Life
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Jul 01, 2014Vincent Van Gogh struggles with mental illness on his path to becoming a renowned artist. Kirk Douglas could be a perfect Vincent Van Gogh, able to reach the emotional depths of the character and charismatic enough to be a believable tortured artist, but this film is poorly structured and statically directed. The film's structure doesn't give us a central conflict: what stands in Van Gogh's way? What is the nature of his mental illness, if that's what it is? What makes him a good artist but a malcontented person? Additionally, Vincente Minnelli's camera never moves. He sets the camera on a tripod in a studio with an obviously painted background behind the action. It's filmmaking stuck in the early days of Hollywood, and it doesn't give us the chance to see all that Douglas's performance could offer. Overall, there is a lot of potential in this film, but it's sadly unfulfilled.Jim H Super Reviewer
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Dec 11, 2013Kirk Douglas' vision of Van Gogh is good but not great. We never get a full picture on what makes this man tick and the full sense of his mental illnesses or inspirations. At times it has the feel of a paint by numbers job. I blame the script rather than Douglas who is a tremendous actor.John B Super Reviewer
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Aug 17, 2012Fantastic as classic movies get. Well acted, well scripted, shot vibrantly and as impressionable in memory as films go as van Gogh's paintings spinning a classic tale of human drama that is moving, meditative, endearing and fulfilling of the heart.Adriel L Super Reviewer
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Aug 10, 2011Pretty to look at? You betcha! Its about Dutch painter numero uno, duh. Informative? Are you kiddin'? Did you know a lot of famous artists hung out in Paris? Yep. So why's this fail to connect? Kirk is there, wringin' his hands every chance he gets. Quinn is there, and he's not happy about the hand wringin'. So wat happened? I think the subject matter spooked the makers ...Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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