Pretty much spot on with the review. Like I said, I wasn't sure I liked the direction ASC took in the second half, but I still was quite entertained. Still more easily satisfied than dolce.

Yeah. I don't know why Zwigoff had to go off and pull a 180 on the meandering experience of a young boy in school. If I hadn't liked the first half, or the "idea" of the movie as much as I did, this would have even gotten a C. It was just a silly and mean at the end. Had none of the sympathy for the space the first half did. It became a simple plot point rather than an exploration in perception.

You kids are cuh-razy.

Yes, because my B/B+ grade is obviously so far away from your A grade

Dolce would have given this an A had the tone of the first half carried through to the end, me thinks. I would have too. The strangler was interesting on the side but it really brought down the ending. I did like the fact that he became hugely famous in jail, though. Heh.

It wasn't even that interesting on the side. It was interesting only as the stimuli for Jerome's roomates video projects. It could have been mentioned once, and the rest of the time could have been about the movies and the Hollywood/artschool antagonism. It was interesting even as far as the drawings, and the discussion about making one's own reality, but it took a nosedive when it left the theoretical and became the basis of the whole movie.

*spoilers* aka: When they believe Jerome is the strangler. It also defeats its own explorations when it just makes fun of the art market flat out at the end. Jerome's paintings don't change, only his celebrity. So in the beginning he struggles to identify with himself and his style, but at the end its not about style, its just about mass consumption of fame. I dunno. Those two are just polar opposites as far as I'm concerned. *end spoilers*

G, it was a statement on the fickleness of people who consume art. You're right, Jerome finding his own style ended up having nothing to do with his eventual fame. And that was the point. You aren't successful in the art world because you're uber talented or have a unique voice. It's either luck or circumstance combined with your talent (and in some cases, your non-talent).

Do you think the fact you're a painter kind of damaged your perspective of the film? I could see someone that takes the art world really seriously maybe being put off by the film, because it's kind of damning.

Maybe, but that's not quite it. I have a sense of humour about these things, and I didn't mind all the jabs at art students in the first half. I think my analogy of Josef Albers and the Professor's triangles was spot on. Its just that the ending didn't take off from that trajectory. It really felt like two different movies, and was quite jarring. And yes, I think the ending was shotty, and that might have to do with my experiences in art school and as an art historian, but it seemed enough other people that aren't viewing it from that vantage point felt similarly.

I think if the movie had set out to completely make fun of the art world, and had always been about fame and fortune, the end would have made sense, and I wouldn't have minded it. Alot of movies I enjoy lead to fame through error and not talent. Its a whole genre. But this one just started off so much more adeptly and sensitively before taking a turn for the worse.


@lennier. When did you see Blue?

Well, yes, as a side thing I was pretty much referring to it only as the film project. I liked the scene where we see the Strangler kill the cashier, and the ones circling around the film. I thought they were interesting and the director/student's story was a fine subject for a small side bit.

The thing about him being in jail and being so hot sort of made up for the rest of the second half because I thought it had something to say- that an artist's popularity is usually based on who you know or what you've done gimmick wise. Jonah, for instance, was hot property because of his silly "explorations/reflections on childhood" or whatever. It was about Jerome finding his own gimmick to be known for - the key to success, it seems. Being a jailed artist and having the hoopla over everything, like the first person wrongfully jailed for the murders, was his ticket to fame. I thought it was an interesting way to finish off the flick and fit in well. Then again, I'm not an artist like you, so perhaps I shouldn't be analyzing these artsy stories.

It's pretty clear Clowe or Zwigoff were passed over due to a flavor of the month type sometime during their art careers. That's probably why the film is so cynical towards the art community.

I actually thought the strangler subplot was both interesting and necessary. There had to be a reason Jerome found success outside of his talent for the point of the film to hit. They were able to create that plot point with an interesting mystery woven in. I find it interesting the film is titled Art School Confidential. It seems to be a reference to LA Confidential and other detective type films. So really, the mystery angle isn't all that far fetched or sudden

Has anyone ever seen Zwigoff? I was curious, so I looked around. Dude look's like Tim Burton's older, slightly crazy brother.

I'm glad to hear somebody got it...

I thought you didn't like the strangler subplot?

That's right -- but I'm such a fan of Zwigoff, that I had to believe that it would appeal to at least one of his viewers...

Eh? I thought "Confidential" referred more to the "secret files" of his perception of others and his experiences in school. For instance, a sort of revealing portrait of his perception of the art school methodology and students. "Can I tell you what I think about them in confidence?" type thing.

You smart ass, you.

John Malkovich was on the Daily Show the other night...

He was lame

I'm just completely baffled by the luke warm reaction this film is receiving. It's kind of depressing me, really.

The more I think about it, the more I love it.

"I... don't.... care.... how often you come to class."

wicked little film. You have to be an art student to truly appreciate it.

I loved it, all the side chracters were just perfect, and Max Minghella was a great lead.

I just loved the conversation between Jerome and the undercover cop, "So do you think I oculd have made it in the art world?"

I'm surprised everyone else liked it so much. I'm usually much less critical of films, and I gave it one of the lower scores.

Twas fun. Reminds me lots of school, at times.