New Van Gogh Biopic, "At Eternity's Gate" (2018)

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2018, 12:17 AM - Edit history (1)

BBC. Willem Dafoe gives a ‘magnificent performance’ as the troubled Van Gogh in Julian Schnabel’s ‘gloriously artistic’ film. There may never have been a painter as sure of his artistic vision, yet as emotionally needy, psychologically troubled and socially isolated as Vincent van Gogh. Willem Dafoe’s magnificent performance captures every bit of the artist’s complexity in Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate. With stunning visuals and a judicious balance of poetry and drama, Schnabel draws us into both Van Gogh’s genius and his tortured life.

Film-makers have been fascinated by Van Gogh for decades, of course, from Lust for Life (1956) with Kirk Douglas as the scenery-chewing hero, to last year’s beautiful, animated Loving Vincent. Schnabel, esteemed as both a painter and the director of films including The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, takes an impressionistic approach, freely inventing scenes and swerving from history when it suits him.

The story he tells, of Van Gogh’s last years, is familiar nonetheless. Financially supported by his loving brother, Theo (Rupert Friend), Van Gogh lives and works in the village of Arles, joined for a time by Paul Gauguin (Oscar Isaac). In and out of asylums, he died at the age of 37 in Auvers-sur-Oise, a thorough failure commercially.

At the start of the film a voiceover by Dafoe expresses Van Gogh’s poignant loneliness. Over a black screen, he says of the villagers in Arles, “I just want to be one of them. I would like to sit down with them and have a drink.” The film then opens to reveal the sky and fields surrounding the village, a vista of rich colours, the blues and greens astonishingly like those in Van Gogh’s paintings.

Dafoe, with reddish hair and beard, piercing blue eyes and a craggy face, looks the part, but the brilliance of this performance comes from the way he quietly conveys the painter’s thoughts, insecurities and moments of inspiration. . .

More, http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181116-film-review-at-eternitys-gate

[hibbing]

1. Looks interesting

Either Dafoe is choosey or he does not get offered very many parts. I could be mistaken as I don't go to many movies. It looks like a great casting choice.

Peace

[appalachiablue]

4. I tried to find out how long this project has been

in the works but couldn't find anything. Good to see Dafoe and based on the trailer the film looks terrific.

[MuseRider]

2. Oooh sounds wonderful!

I loved Lust For Life, did not see Loving Vincent. I found The Diving Bell and the Butterfly difficult to watch but a good film with a difficult topic to display and done well. This sounds like a wonderful group. Van Gogh, Dafoe and Schnabel. Thank you for putting this down, I might not have known about it otherwise.

[appalachiablue]

3. It looks very interesting from the trailer, enjoy.

[bif]

5. Just curious

Why did you include "The Diving Bell" with these movies?

[MuseRider]

6. It is in the OP.

Julian Schnabel directs this movie and he also did "The Diving Bell".

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Thanks! He is my favorite artist and his life

story so poignant