High Art

Critics Consensus

A surprisingly sultry performance from Ally Sheedy elevates High Art from pretentious melodrama to compelling -- if still a little pretentious -- romance.

73%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 45

77%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 8,113
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Movie Info

Lisa Cholodenko's Sundance award-winning romantic drama about a photo magazine editor and the heroin-addicted former photo prodigy with whom she falls in love is ripe in cliches and artifice, but features two of the year's best performances, from Ally Sheedy and newcomer Radha Mitchell.
  • Rating:
    R (For strong sexuality, pervasive drug use and language)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Lisa Cholodenko
  • Written By:
    Lisa Cholodenko
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    October Releasing

Cast

Radha Mitchell
as Syd
Ally Sheedy
as Lucy Berliner
Patricia Clarkson
as Greta
Bill Sage
as Arnie
Tammy Grimes
as Vera
Anh Duong
as Dominique
Ahn Duong
as Dominique
Gabriel Mann
as James
David Thornton
as Harry
Helen Mendes
as White Hawk
Cindra Feuer
as Delia
Anthony Ruivivar
as Xander
Elaine Tse
as Zoe
Rudolf Martin
as Dieter
Laura Ekstrand
as Waitress
Charis Michelson
as Debby
View All

Critic Reviews for High Art

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (12)

View All Critic Reviews (45)

Audience Reviews for High Art

  • Feb 02, 2013
    Absorbing psychological tug-of-war ensues for the attentions of fragile, reclusive photographer Lucy (Ally Sheedy) between her current girlfriend, junkie German former actress Greta (Patricia Clarkson) and her newly introduced downstairs neighbor, assistant magazine layout editor Syd (Radha Mitchell) who can get her vocation back on the fast track. The title has a double meaning as Lucy is torn, she can choose to remain in her current situation of privacy locked in a world of drug-fueled parties and a debilitatingly dependent Greta, or gain the strength to get clean and join Syd which also means facing the pressures that drove her away from the photography business in the first place. This trio of actresses is equally excellent in showing each character's vulnerabilities and makes the film worth watching, even if it seems to end with a chapter missing.
    Doctor S Super Reviewer
  • Mar 06, 2010
    good to see ally sheedy, i havent seen her in years, a interesting role for her, although story is dull at times, and doesent really go anywhere, its worth a watch
    scott g Super Reviewer
  • Jan 26, 2010
    This is the film that had everyone aflutter because here we have Ally Sheedy coming out of the woodwork years after the Breakfast Club and she is a les-bion. She does a wonderful job but what happened to her co-star Radha Mitchell?
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Dec 05, 2008
    Cholodenko's debut brims with luscious cinematography.Literally!!The trio is demanding in every frame,projecting the pessimism of life,abnormalities in relationships,a Queer film without the cliches of this genre (I refuse to call it that way).Clarkson is so fuckin' underrated I swear she could play an animated freak and still play as gorgeous as ever.Gloomy atmosphere during the sex scenes.
    Dimitris S Super Reviewer
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