Pollock (2000)

A film about the life and career of the American painter, Jackson Pollock.

Director:

Ed Harris

Writers:

Steven Naifeh (book), Gregory White Smith (book)

Stars:

Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Robert Knott

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ed Harris	...	Jackson Pollock
Robert Knott	...	Sande Pollock
Molly Regan	...	Arloie Pollock
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Lee Krasner
Sada Thompson	...	Stella Pollock
Eulala Scheel	...	Arloie's Baby (as Eulala Grace Harden)
Matthew Sussman	...	Reuben Kadish
Bud Cort	...	Howard Putzel
Amy Madigan	...	Peggy Guggenheim
Everett Quinton	...	James Johnson Sweeney
Annabelle Gurwitch	...	May Rosenberg
John Rothman	...	Harold Rosenberg
John Heard	...	Tony Smith
Kenny Scharf	...	William Baziotes
Tom McGuinness	...	Franz Kline

Storyline

At the end of the 1940's, abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is featured in Life magazine. Flashback to 1941, he's living with his brother in a tiny apartment in New York City, drinking too much, and exhibiting an occasional painting in group shows. That's when he meets artist Lee Krasner, who puts her career on hold to be his companion, lover, champion, wife, and, in essence, caretaker. To get him away from booze, insecurity, and the stress of city life, they move to the Hamptons where nature and sobriety help Pollock achieve a breakthrough in style: a critic praises, then Life magazine calls. But so do old demons: the end is nasty, brutish, and short.

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Plot Keywords:

painter | life magazine | drinking | artist | 1940s | 

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Taglines:

A True Portrait of Life and Art.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pollock

Filming Locations:

Long Island, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$44,244 (USA) (15 December 2000)

Gross:

$8,596,914 (USA) (20 July 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brant-Allen, Fred Berner Films, Pollock Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film cast includes two Oscar winners: Marcia Gay Harden and Jennifer Connelly; and two Oscar nominees: Ed Harris and Amy Madigan.

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Goofs

When the photographer is making the movie of Pollock he "zooms" in on the shoes. But the old 16 mm camera he is using has a three fixed lens turret. He should not be able to zoom. All his other shots are as expected from fixed lenses of different focal lengths.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jackson Pollock: [drunk] Who's the greatest drummer in the world?
Sande Pollock: What?
Jackson Pollock: Crupa.

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Connections

References Works of Calder (1950)

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Soundtracks

It's Sad But True
Written by Harold Green, Michael Stoner and Martin Block
Performed by Duke Ellington
Courtesy of Soundies, Inc.
By Arrangement with DePugh Music

User Reviews

Action Jackson

While this film is flooded with holes in Pollacks short career, we do get a glimpse of his struggle and process. I was sorry that a few other notable artist that were a part of Pollacks art scene were not portrayed during this great period of time. Mark Rothko, Louise Nevelson and Robert Motherwell to name a few. Also, Pollack worked as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for a short time. This environment was partly responsible for exposing him to the dominant European invasion of art in America. I would have liked more in depth insights into why Pollack began painting and why he was so tortured. Ed Harris does a fine job with the material he was working with, but they could have covered more bases in Pollacks life and I know Harris would have stepped up to the plate.

In one scene Pollack is pacing back and forth in front of a large blank canvass. It is a stunning scene watching his shadow run along that large white surface waiting for the moment he would begin to paint. Another scene takes us to East Hampton where he is kneeling down out in the salt marshes staring into a tide pool. Just this pose alone suggests a precursor to removing the canvass from the wall and placing it on the floor.

There are a few quiet moments that capture the subtle Pollack and I wish they explored more in this direction. In so many of these artist portrayals the essence of the process and inspiration gets lost in the drama of their personalities.

However, this movie takes on an ambitious man and an ambitious time in American Art. I was grateful to have seen with my own eyes several Pollack shows over the years and to have studied and experimented myself with Abstract Expressionism.

I think Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden should be nominated for their incredible portrayals of these two great artists. Moreover, whether you know a great deal about Pollack, this film will allow you to glimpse into the life of Jackson, but it will also expose you to his wonderful partner, Lee Krasner.