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| Movie Review: Local Color Alternate Title: A Tiepolo Sky
Story: I am sorry to report
that another film about art and artists falls flat on its face. It might
have been better served as one of those TV After School Specials. The
semi-autobiographical film takes place in 1974 and is about an aspiring
young artist who spends a summer with a curmudgeonly teacher who was
once a well known artist. It was directed and written by George
Gallo. So what went wrong? The 40 year debate extolling the virtues of representational versus
nonrepresentational art is old news. The film tries desperately to prove
that representational art is the better art and the rest is crap. As
proof of the hypothesis a parade of caricature artists are presented
as nothing less than fools and elitists. The director even drags in
mentally handicapped children to prove his point. Gasp. The dialogue between the eager impressionistic young artist and the
vodka swilling, foul-mouthed angry old man is contrived, predictable
and downright boring. And did I mention that there is also a very annoying
narrator throughout? I am sure that director Gallo's heartfelt effort as an homage to his
mentor was genuine but this film had no Primary Colors in it for me. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNagBpfpB70 Acting: Armin Mueller-Stahl as artist Nicoli Seroff
does his best to depict the old man yells at cloud bit - but when there
is no script to work from - it is hard to get good acting. Trevor
Morgan as young John was too sweet and did not have the angry,
hungry artist's soul that the role demanded. Samantha Mathis
was wasted as the neighbor. Ron Perlman was insulting
and cartoonish as the effete art dealer. Ray Liotta
and Diana Scarwid as the parents did not have much
to do.
Trivia: George Gallo Jr (born 1956
in Port Chester, New York) is a North American painter, musician, filmmaker,
and producer. He is best known for writing Midnight Run and 29th Street,
and is an accomplished painter in the style of the Pennsylvania Impressionists.
In 1990, he won the coveted Arts for the Parks award, and has had three
one-man exhibitions in New York City. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
Predilection: I like films about art and artists
(but not this one)
Critters: A horse
Food: Lots of food. Apparently creating art builds
an appetite (forget that starving artist bit for this film). Bacon,
eggs, toast, meat, potatoes, fish, bread and lots of vodka.
Sex Spectrum: A kiss
Soundtrack: Cloying.
Opening Titles: A narrator's voice (bad sign) in
an introduction to young John looking thoughtful in an art museum.
Visual Art: Lots and lots of painting.
Theater Audience: Five guys and me.
Weather: Summertime in Pennsylvania (but filmed in
pre-Katrina Louisiana).
Sappy Factor: 2
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I looked at my watch often. The film
seemed as if I was watching paint dry.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Neither
Length: 100 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 3 |