Ah,
the life of a tortured artist. The new biopic Pollock is a thoroughly depressing
look at the life of the hard drinking artist, convincingly played by Ed Harris
(who also makes his directorial debut.)
Abstract
painter Jackson Pollock was a complex man, but he was also a genius when it came
to the hobby he loved most. Throughout his life, he was often lead astray by alcohol.
With the help of his soul mate (played beautifully by Oscar Winner Marcia Gay
Harden), it seemed that Pollock would finally find solace in his life but not
without a series of relapses and unpredictable events.
This
project has been a labor of love for Harris for quite sometime, and this is a
strong directorial debut. Harris' performance as Pollock is even stronger. As
I stated in my Enemy at the Gates review, Harris can give a stare that speaks
a thousand words. He more than resembles the painter. He also captures his fiery
energy and inner turmoil as well. This is a powerful and uninhibited performance
that really should have won the actor an Oscar. Of all the nominees this year,
I felt he was the most deserving. Co-star Marcia Gay Harden did win an Oscar,
and it's easy to see why. She gives an explosive turn as a woman who really struggled
to keep Pollock on the right track. Never backing down from Pollock's sudden bursts
of anger, this was a strong willed woman who would not give up on the man she
loved.
Pollock
is a sad film about a man unable to deal with the rigors of the real world. Through
his painting, he found a way to express himself but ultimately, he never really
found a way to cope. Harris has captured this depressing and lonely portrait on
film punctuating it with energy a realism. After watching it, you'd swear that
Harris could paint as well as the tortured soul he's portraying.
