Pollock (2000)

Director:

Ed Harris

Writers (WGA):

Steven Naifeh (book) and
Gregory White Smith (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 May 2001 (Poland)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

A True Portrait of Life and Art.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Life Magazine | Painter | New York City | 1940s | Artist

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Ed Harris	...	Jackson Pollock
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Lee Krasner
Tom Bower	...	Dan Miller
Jennifer Connelly	...	Ruth Kligman
Bud Cort	...	Howard Putzel
John Heard	...	Tony Smith
Val Kilmer	...	Willem DeKooning
Robert Knott	...	Sande Pollock
David Leary	...	Charles Pollock
Amy Madigan	...	Peggy Guggenheim
Sally Murphy	...	Edith Metzger
Molly Regan	...	Arloie Pollock
Stephanie Seymour	...	Helen Frankenthaler
Matthew Sussman	...	Reuben Kadish
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Clem Greenberg
Sada Thompson	...	Stella Pollock
Norbert Weisser	...	Hans Namuth
Eulala Scheel	...	Arloie's Baby (as Eulala Grace Harden)
Everett Quinton	...	James Johnson Sweeney
Annabelle Gurwitch	...	May Rosenberg
John Rothman	...	Harold Rosenberg
Kenny Scharf	...	William Baziotes
Tom McGuinness	...	Franz Kline
Katherine Wallach	...	Barbara Kadish
Cassandra Clewicki	...	Kadish Child
Sloane Shelton	...	Dot Miller
Eduardo Machado	...	Alfonso Ossorio
Moss Roberts	...	Ted Dragon
Robert O'Neill	...	Herbert Matter
Isabelle Townsend	...	Mercedes Matter
Jennifer Piech	...	Young Redhead
Rebecca Wisocky	...	Dorothy Seiberling
Linda Emond	...	Martha Holmes
Tony Palazzolo	...	Delivery Man
Barbara Garrick	...	Betty Parsons
Claire Beckman	...	Vita Peterson
David Cale	...	William Wright
Stephen Beach	...	Jay Pollock
Jill Jackson	...	Alma Pollock
Donna Mitchell	...	Elizabeth Pollock
Sondra Jablonski	...	Jeremy Pollock
Frank Wood	...	Frank Pollock
Julie Anna Rose	...	Marie Pollock
Kyle Timothy Smith	...	Jonathan Pollock (as Kyle Smith)
April Petroski	...	Karen Pollock
Nicholas Petroski	...	Jason Pollock
Noah Petroski	...	Jason Pollock
Bob L. Harris	...	Veterinarian (as Bob Harris)
John Madigan	...	News Broadcaster (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matthew Hart Landfield	...	Newspaper Boy (uncredited)
John Nesci	...	East Hampton Police Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ed Harris

Writing credits (WGA)
Steven Naifeh		(book "Jackson Pollock: An American Saga") and
Gregory White Smith		(book "Jackson Pollock: An American Saga")
Barbara Turner		(screenplay) and
Susan Emshwiller		(screenplay) (as Susan J. Emshwiller)

Produced by
Joseph Allen	....	executive producer
Heiner Bastian	....	associate producer
Fred Berner	....	producer
Peter Brant	....	executive producer (as Peter M. Brant)
Ed Harris	....	producer
Jon Kilik	....	producer
Cecilia Kate Roque	....	co-producer
Candy Trabuco	....	associate producer (as Candy Trabacco)
James Francis Trezza	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeff Beal

Cinematography by
Lisa Rinzler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kathryn Himoff

Casting by
Todd M. Thaler		(as Todd Thaler)

Production Design by
Mark Friedberg

Art Direction by
Teresa Mastropierro
Peter Rogness

Set Decoration by
Carolyn Cartwright

Costume Design by
David C. Robinson

Makeup Department
Ma Kalaadevi Ananda	....	makeup department head (as Marilyn Carbone)
Michal Bigger	....	makeup artist: August
Mitch Ely	....	hair stylist: August
Kelly Gleason	....	special effects makeup artist: Ms. Madigan
Linda Grimes	....	key makeup artist
Lori Hicks	....	additional makeup artist
Paul Huntley	....	hairpiece: Pollock
Michele Paris	....	makeup artist (as Michele Paris-Catanzarite)
John Quaglia	....	additional hair stylist (as John D. Quaglia)
Jeffrey Sacino	....	hair stylist
James Sarzotti	....	makeup artist: August
Peggy Schierholz	....	additional hair stylist (as Peg Schierholz)

Production Management
Julie Antonelli	....	post-production supervisor
Meryl Emmerton	....	production manager
Daniel Strol	....	unit supervisor (as Daniel J. Strol)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cindy Craig	....	second assistant director
Jude Gorjanc	....	first assistant director
Jessica Piscitelli	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
JoAnn Atwood	....	on-set dresser
Brian Becker	....	carpenter
Peter Blechman	....	carpenter
Doug Bowen	....	construction coordinator: August
Douglas Bowen	....	carpenter
Daniel Brandes	....	carpenter
Kelly Brant	....	props production assistant
Diana Burton	....	property master
Suzanne E. Cestare	....	swing gang (as Sue Cestare)
Tom Clark	....	construction grip
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist
Eva P. Davy	....	scenic artist (as Eva Davy)
Rena DeAngelo	....	second props
June DeCamp	....	scenic artist
Ruth Deleon	....	additional on-set dresser
Chris DesMarais	....	property master: August (as Chris Des Marais)
Ruth DiPasquale	....	swing gang
James C. Feng	....	assistant art director (as Jim Feng)
Stephen Finkin	....	swing gang (as Steve Finkin)
Ray Fisher	....	lead man
Elizabeth Gillen	....	scenic artist
Bill Gilleran	....	construction grip
Gregg Gilmartin	....	carpenter
Phil Goldstein	....	scenic artist
Jonathan Graham	....	key construction grip
Regina Graves	....	assistant set decorator
Jeremiah Greenblatt	....	construction shop manager
Thomas Gregory	....	carpenter
Peter Hackman	....	scenic foreman
Dana Hook	....	construction grip
Elizabeth Howard	....	scenic artist
Duncan Hoxworth	....	carpenter
Ross Huttick	....	swing gang
Miguel Jimenez	....	shop electrician (as Miguel Jiminez)
Chris Jordan	....	third greensperson
Tina Khayat	....	art department coordinator: August
Marion Kolsby	....	assistant art director
George Kousoulides	....	scenic artist
Gordon Krause	....	construction foreman
Richard Lamb	....	scenic artist
Laura Lambert	....	swing gang
Roger Lang	....	carpenter
Lisa Lawley	....	painter: Jackson Pollock paintings through 1947
Richard Liebgold	....	swing gang (as Richard Leibgold)
Victor Littlejohn	....	set dresser
Lynn Maffessoli	....	scenic artist
Alan Mamet	....	swing gang (as Allen Mamet)
Teresa Mastropierro	....	art director: August
Michele Mayas	....	scenic artist
Robin McAllister	....	props assistant (as Robin C. McAllister)
Jean-Paul Menard	....	second greensperson
Ann Miller	....	additional props
Lou Miller	....	carpenter
Nick Miller	....	construction coordinator
Laraine Mills	....	construction production assistant
Charles A. Nastacio	....	construction grip (as Charlie Nastacio)
Mel Noped	....	construction grip (as Melvin Noped)
Thomas Nousias	....	scenic artist
Francis V. O'Connor	....	art history consultant
Nicole Paré	....	art department intern
Jesse Pelikan	....	construction grip
Janine Pesce	....	second props
Morgan Pitts	....	second greensperson
Walter Pluff	....	additional on-set dresser
Dave Reardon	....	swing gang foreman
Raymond Reddy	....	carpenter
Raymond Reddy	....	construction foreman
James A. Riley IV	....	construction grip
Jon Ringbom	....	charge scenic
Kevin Roach	....	carpenter
Bruno Robuti	....	painting: "Summertime"
Charles Romanello	....	carpenter
James Sadek	....	carpenter
Jeanne Sauger	....	scenic artist
Eric Schappach	....	scenic artist
Will Scheck	....	lead greensperson
Dianne Schlies	....	painter: "Cotton Pickers" and "Going West"
Elizabeth Schlitten	....	additional props (as Liz Schlitten)
Clarissa Shanahan	....	charge scenic: August
Richard A. Sirico	....	carpenter (as Richard Sirico)
Salvatore Sirico	....	carpenter
Julie Sloan	....	scenic artist
Jennifer Snoeyink	....	scenic artist
Nell Stifel	....	camera scenic artist
Alexandra Tager	....	fine art coordinator
Margaret von Biesen	....	painter: Lee Krasner paintings through 1945
Sheri von Seeburg	....	art department coordinator
Kenneth Walshak	....	carpenter
Danielle Webb	....	set dresser
Eric Wheelis	....	art department intern
Josh Wingard	....	construction grip
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer
John Wolanczyk	....	scenic artist
Timothy Joliat	....	swing gang (uncredited)
Timothy Main	....	special prop builder (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Austin	....	supervising sound editor (as Peter Drake Austin)
Neil Bleifield	....	additional cable (as Neil Bleifeld)
Noah Blough	....	sound editor
Andrew Bock	....	assistant sound editor
David Boulton	....	adr mixer: New York
Scott Breindel	....	sound mixer
Zane D. Bruce	....	foley artist (as Zane Bruce)
Joan Chamberlain	....	adr recordist: Los Angeles
Joe Earle	....	adr supervisor
Ann Hadsell	....	adr mixer: Los Angeles
Kenneth L. Johnson	....	sound effects editor
Richard King	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Koronkiewicz	....	boom operator
Gary Krause	....	sound effects editor
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
Jeff Livesey	....	cable person
Paul Longstaffe	....	dialog & adr editor
James Matheny	....	sound editor
Kathy McCart	....	sound recordist (as Kathy M. Cart)
Myron Nettinga	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Potter	....	sound effects recordist
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist: New York
Gary Ritchie	....	sound recordist
Brian Ruberg	....	foley mixer
Joseph T. Sabella	....	foley artist (as Joey Sabella)
Dan Wesson	....	boom operator
Linda Yeaney	....	first assistant sound editor
Jason W. Jennings	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mark Bero	....	special effects
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects (as Steve Kirschoff)

Visual Effects by
Martin Avitia	....	optical supervisor: Title House Digital
Blake Busby	....	graphic designer: Title House Digital
Scott David	....	compositor
David Hayes	....	optical line-up: Title House Digital
Julie Landholt	....	graphic designer: Title House Digital
Gary Miller	....	camera operator: Title House Digital
Jennifer Rae Smith	....	title coordinator: Title House Digital
Robert Beebe	....	optical printer operator: Title House Digital (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	in-show optical process and effects compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	optical element Hazeltine colorist: THDX (uncredited)
Steven Emmert	....	optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Lloyd Hess	....	technical support (uncredited)
Thomas Rosseter	....	visual effects supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
George Sakellariou	....	production engineering: ILM (uncredited)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator
Stephanie Finochio	....	stunts (as Stephanie Finnocchio)
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunts (as Jeff Gibson)
Susan Trout	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Will Arnot	....	Steadicam operator
Richard Audino	....	rigging gaffer
Geb Byers	....	first assistant camera (as George Byers)
Casey Campbell	....	electrician
Brian Carmichael	....	video operator
Xiomara Comrie	....	assistant camera
Daniel Cournoyer	....	best boy grip (as Daniel R. Cournoyer)
Tim Davies	....	grip
Moira Demos	....	electrician
Dan Denitto	....	dolly grip (as Dan DeNitto)
Steve Drellich	....	additional camera operator
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip
James J. Ferris	....	rigging electric
James Harker	....	electrician
Marc Hirschfeld	....	Steadicam first assistant camera (as Marc Hirschfield)
Learan Kahanov	....	electrician (as Leann Kahanov)
Chaim Kantor	....	camera operator: August
Chris Karlof	....	best boy electric: August (as Chris Karloff)
Wolfgang Koslow	....	electrician (as Wolf Koslow)
David Lee	....	still photographer
Dennis A. Livesey	....	first assistant camera
Scott Maguire	....	second assistant camera
Derek Murphy	....	electrician
Melissa O'Brien	....	camera loader
Alfred Padilla	....	electrician (as Alfred O. Padilla)
George Pattison	....	Steadicam operator: August
Daniel Salk	....	video operator
Kory Salomone	....	second assistant camera (as Kory Salamone)
Tom Schnaidt	....	camera loader
Joyce Schneider	....	electrician
Mark Schwartzbard	....	camera loader
Tristan G. Sheridan	....	gaffer
Adam Snyder	....	grip
John Sosenko	....	camera operator
Brooke Stanford	....	best boy electric
Demmie Todd	....	still photographer
Justin Vanson	....	best boy grip: August
Peter Vietro-Hannum	....	grip
David Wasserman	....	third grip
David Waterston	....	additional camera operator (as Dave Waterston)
Jhon Wlaschin	....	electrician

Casting Department
Joe Alfano	....	extras casting assistant
Jonathan Strauss	....	casting associate
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frank L. Fleming	....	costumer (as Frank Fleming)
Joni M. Huth	....	costume shop supervisor (as Joni Huth)
Jeannie H. Kelly	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Jeannie Kelly)
Pamela Kezal	....	wardrobe supervisor
Anastasia Marano	....	wardrobe intern
Andrea Martin	....	wardrobe intern
Ingrid Price	....	costumer
Frankie Ritacco	....	wardrobe supervisor
Monica Russell	....	set costumer
Kim Wilcox	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Catherine Anderson	....	negative cutter: JG Films
Franco Barbeite	....	assistant editor
Daniel Candib	....	assistant editor (as Dan Candib)
Robert J. Lemos	....	assistant film editor
Kent McGrew	....	color timer
Dan O'Grady	....	negative conforming supervisor
Linda Schubell-Sundlin	....	first assistant film editor (as Linda Sundlin)
Daniel F. Siskin	....	post-production assistant
Jamal A. Swinton	....	post-production consultant
Tim Wilson	....	first assistant film editor

Music Department
Dondi Bastone	....	music supervisor (as Don Bastone)
Steve Miller	....	music consultant
Sharon Smith	....	music editor
Daniel Gaber	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bill Buckman	....	driver
Mike Buckman	....	transportation co-captain
William Curtin	....	driver (as Billy Curtin)
John Featherstone	....	driver
Michael Fennell	....	driver (as Mickey Fennell)
Kevin Flynn	....	driver
Roy Fortier	....	driver
Billy Junior	....	driver
Chris Kornack	....	driver
Harry J. Leavey	....	driver (as Harry Leavey)
Tom Leavey	....	transportation captain
William Leavey	....	driver (as Bill Leavey)
Larry Miele	....	driver
Erik W. Wickstrom	....	driver (as Eric Wickstrom)

Other crew
Sam Adelman	....	film apprentice
Jade Allen	....	office intern
Nuri Bell	....	production assistant
Jean Bickley	....	assistant: Peter Brant
Ana Bielschowsky	....	office intern
Maria T. Bierniak	....	facilities coordinator: East Hampton
Steve Blakely	....	laboratory operations: Duart
Zoran Blazevic	....	location assistant
Casey Block	....	accountant
Maurice Cabrera	....	parking coordinator
Chi Yoon Chung	....	avid apprentice
Kathy Ciric	....	location scout
Wendy Cohen	....	production resources
Coleen Curtin	....	location assistant: East Hampton
Melissa De Waters	....	set intern
Philip Dixon	....	set production assistant
Michael Espinosa	....	set production assistant
Debora Fearon	....	craft service (as Debbie Fearon)
John Fedynich	....	assistant location manager
John B. Finn	....	accountant (as John Finn)
Lisa France	....	stand-in
John Franick	....	film dailies supervisor: Du Art
Leigh French	....	group looping
Mary Gambardella	....	script supervisor: August
Joe Guest	....	set production assistant (as Joe C. Guest)
Don Hartman	....	stand-in
Desmond Harvey	....	additional craft service
Sean Hogan	....	first assistant accountant
Mark Horowitz	....	international sales: Alliance Atlantic Pictures International
Paul Kostick	....	assistant to director
Al Lamberti	....	location assistant
Victoria Lang	....	set production assistant
Eric Richard Lasko	....	set production assistant
Lisa Lawley	....	painting coach
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Joe Monge	....	video transfers supervisor: Duart
David Moy	....	location assistant
Stuart Nicolai	....	location assistant
Tjamal Noni	....	office production assistant (as Tjamal K. Noni)
Suzanne O'Donnell	....	assistant: Marcia Gay Harden
Maria T. Pagano	....	set production assistant
Steven Planck	....	office intern
Audra Polk	....	assistant coordinator
Thomas R. Polleri	....	set production assistant (as Tom Polleri)
John Pompa	....	set intern
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout
David Riedel	....	film apprentice
Spencer Riviera	....	office intern
Monica Ruiz-Ziegler	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson
Josh Schneider	....	accountant
Eric Schwarz	....	production secretary
George Sheanshang	....	legal services
Edward D. Sherrick	....	financial advisor
Birgit Staudt	....	location scout
Michael Ward Stout	....	legal counsel: artwork
Kristina Strang	....	craft service
Peggy Sutton	....	script supervisor
Jessica Tait	....	office intern
David Tambor	....	set intern
John Charles Thomas	....	legal counsel: artwork
Alfonso Trinidad	....	key set production assistant
Mark Van Holstein	....	location assistant (as Mark von Holstein)
George Walden	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Michael L. Walker	....	set production assistant
Annie Young Frisbie	....	assistant to producers (as Annie Young)
Gerry Ferrara	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Michael K. Reynolds	....	chef (uncredited)
Andrew Yeo	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Charles Bergman	....	special thanks: the Pollock-Krasner Foundation
David Eric Brenner	....	thanks (as David E. Brenner)
Eric Clapton	....	special thanks
Robert De Niro	....	special thanks: Tribeca Productions (as Robert DeNiro)
Charles Haid	....	thanks
Helen A. Harrison	....	special thanks: the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, East Hampton, New York
Agnieszka Holland	....	thanks
Mark Isham	....	special thanks
Pepe Karmel	....	special thanks: the Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Neil Koenigsberg	....	special thanks
Graham Leggat	....	special thanks: the Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Carol Littleton	....	special thanks
Liz Manne	....	special thanks
Chris McNamara	....	special thanks: the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, East Hampton, New York
Walter Murch	....	thanks
Victor Nunez	....	thanks
Eugene V. Thaw	....	special thanks: the Pollock-Krasner Foundation
Kirk Varnedoe	....	special thanks: the Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Production Companies

• Brant-Allen
• Fred Berner Films
• Pollock Films
• Zeke Productions

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2000) (non-USA) (all media) (sales)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (Germany)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Future Film (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Animal Actors  animal trainers (as Animal Actors International)
• Big Time Picture Company  film editing facility: Los Angeles
• Digital Cut Post Inc.  avid editing facility: Los Angeles
• Digital Difference  music editing equipment
• Du Art Film Laboratories  laboratory services
• East Coast Post  avid editing facility: New York
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• Perseverance Records  soundtrack album (rejected score)
• Red Rock Productions  sound post-production
• Title House Digital  titles and opticals
• Todd-AO Studios  post sound
• Warner Bros. Sound  additional sound services
• Warner Bros. Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief sexuality

Runtime:

122 min | Germany:132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:16 | Malaysia:U | Canada:18+ (Ontario) | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Brant-Allen

Trivia:

This was originally conceived as a vehicle for Robert De Niro and Barbra Streisand.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera shadow on Jackson's face as he starts the mural.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Primetime Glick: Bill Maher/Steve Martin (#1.1)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Don't Be Angry

impressive biopic

Although the film doesn't exactly startle us with its thesis – that the life of an artist is rarely a happy one – `Pollock' manages to skirt most of the clichés inherent in the `tortured-artist' biographical genre to provide us with a complex study not only of the man himself but also of the woman who stood beside him through most of his troubled life.

Jackson Pollock was, of course, the prototypical `struggling genius' – neurotic, insecure, arrogant, self-absorbed and forever locked in an epic struggle with his own private demons (in Pollock's case, alcoholism). Out of this morass of personal weaknesses, the painter perfected his art – which became a reflection and synthesis of the raw elements comprising the emotionally chaotic world in which he lived. The film introduces us to the man in 1941 when he is still a virtual unknown living in Greenwich Village, bellowing in an alcoholic rage against the success of Picasso, in whose shadow Pollock seems to be forever hidden away from public view. One day, into his life walks Lee Krasner, a similar, though less gifted, modern artist who detects Pollock's special genius and becomes the future art world celebrity's greatest champion and lover.

Much of the fascination of the film lies in the examination of the complexities of the almost love-hate relationship that develops between the two. On the one hand, we sense that Jackson and Lee provide just the right emotional complement for one another – a shared symbiosis which lays the foundation for an environment in which Pollock's creativity and artistic experimentation can expand and flourish. Lee, for instance, wages a fierce battle to secure Pollock's acceptance among the crème de la crème of New York's art world elite, the result of which is eventual name recognition for Pollock the world over. Yet, Lee pays an ultimate price for her tenacious possessiveness: so all consumed does she become in the life and work of the man who will change the face of modern art that she begins to alienate him and eventually push him away. Unwilling to share him even with a child of their own, she ends up depriving Pollock of the chance of experiencing the joys of fatherhood. The final result is that he is truly left with nothing but his identity as a painter. Thus, as his reputation begins to become eclipsed by newer, younger artists, and as he retreats back into an alcoholic haze after a couple of years of productive sobriety, Pollock's life begins its inevitable spiral downwards into hopelessness and tragedy.

Ed Harris not only stars in the film but directed it as well. He does a superb job on both counts. As Pollock, he supplies the brooding sensitivity as well as the physical intensity that are reflected in the artist's paintings themselves. One never doubts the genuine love Pollock has for Lee, yet always there is the constant threat of physical violence lying latent beneath his placid surface. Marcia Gay Harden matches Harris' performance every step of the way. Beneath her determined, hard-edged exterior lies a woman capable of sincere attachment and a total devotion to both a person and the cause he represents.

Unlike so many films dealing with the lives of artists – in which we see brief glimpses of paint-dabbing followed almost immediately by views of the finished products – `Pollock' provides generous opportunities to see Pollock (i.e. Harris) in action. We sit spellbound as we watch him take a plain white canvas and, step by step, convert it into a work of beauty and art.

If for no other reason, the film is worth seeing just to whet one's appetite and renew one's appreciation for Pollock's work.