DIRECTOR | TAMRA DAVIS
STARRING | JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT, JULIAN SCHNABEL, LARRY GAGOSIAN
STUDIO | FOCUS FEATURES
RELEASE | 11.16.10
Meeting Andy Warhol (that flake!) may have been Basquiat’s rise and demise. This film moves at a joyous pace reminiscent of the artist’s life, beginning in a manner full of noisy, spontaneous creativity and ending on a rather short, somber note.
Jean Michel Basquiat began making a name for himself by posting his jumbled thoughts and poetic scribbles on the streets of NYC, such as “A pin drops like a pungent odor ©SAMO.” This feature documentary is a rarity of Basquiat footage, including bits from an interview conducted by director Tamra Davis over two decades ago. The intense emotion in the eyes of his closest friends, lovers and gallerists speaks of his charisma and unique mind as they offer their thoughts on the artist. Going from homeless at 17 to multi-millionaire status within the short frame of a few years proved too overwhelming for young Basquiat. With a fatal OD at 27, he left the art world in shock. So if we’ve learned anything from our heroes, kids, it’s to stay off the smack or you’ll die young and famous!
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