Pollock

I mentioned a few weeks back that I've got several more recent films to get through that I recorded off of TCM during 31 Days of Oscar. Next up is a movie from the odometer year of 2000, so almost a quarter century ago, but still fairly recent by the standards of the movies that I blog about: Pollock.

As you probably know the title refers to Jackson Pollock (played by Ed Harris, who also directed), who changed the world of abstract art in the 1940s and 1950s. The movie starts off in the late 1940s with Jackson doing a show and being the subject of a story in Life magazine, with people knowing who he is and lining up for his autograph. We then go back nine years, and before World War II. Jackson is an alcoholic struggling artist, living with his brother and sister-in-law.

But it's not really a relationship that works, especially with a baby on the way and Jackson needing space for his art. Coming to his door one day is a fellow abstract artist, Lee Krasner (Marcia Gay Harden, who won an Oscar for her role). She's really intrigued by his art, and eventually moves in with him. After some time of Jackson continuing to struggle, Lee runs into Howard Putzel (Bud Cort), who is a buyer for wealthy and influential Peggy Guggenheim, who might just be able to promote Jackson's work and make him a success as an artist.

Since this is a biopic and we know how Jackson Pollock turns out, we know that in fact Peggy Guggenheim will take an interest in Jackson and put on a show of his in late 1942. The attention is starting to make him into a name, but his art is still of the sort that most people aren't interested in actually buying. And, with his alcoholism, trying to make a living at anything isn't going to be easy, as well as having an increasingly volatile relationship with Lee.

Eventually, Lee gives Jackson an ultimatum, and he marries her with the two moving out to Long Island. There, he develops the drip technicque for which he would become famous. But he continues to drink and become erratic and violent. He also starts seeing other women who show up at the house. If you know Pollock's biography, you already know how all of this is going to end, and it's not exactly a happy ending.

Pollock, being a biopic about a well-known figure, is one that's not going to offer a bunch of surprises. However, it's very well acted, as both main leads earned Oscar nominations. The movie was a labor of love for Ed Harris, and it certainly paid off. Pollock is definitely worth a watch.