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IMDbPro

Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon

  • 19981998
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,240
2,934
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
BiographyDramaRomance
Biography of British painter Francis Bacon focuses on his relationship with his lover, George Dyer, a former small time crook.Biography of British painter Francis Bacon focuses on his relationship with his lover, George Dyer, a former small time crook.Biography of British painter Francis Bacon focuses on his relationship with his lover, George Dyer, a former small time crook.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,240
2,934
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • John Maybury
    • Writer
      • John Maybury
    • Stars
      • Derek Jacobi
      • Daniel Craig
      • Tilda Swinton
    Top credits
    • Director
      • John Maybury
    • Writer
      • John Maybury
    • Stars
      • Derek Jacobi
      • Daniel Craig
      • Tilda Swinton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:13
    Official Trailer

    Photos18

    Daniel Craig in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Anne Lambton in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Derek Jacobi in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Daniel Craig in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Tilda Swinton in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Tilda Swinton in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)
    Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Derek Jacobi
    Derek Jacobi
    • Francis Bacon
    Daniel Craig
    Daniel Craig
    • George Dyer
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Muriel Belcher
    Anne Lambton
    Anne Lambton
    • Isabel Rawsthorne
    Adrian Scarborough
    Adrian Scarborough
    • Daniel Farson
    Karl Johnson
    Karl Johnson
    • John Deakin
    Annabel Brooks
    • Henrietta Moraes
    Richard Newbould
    • Blonde Billy
    • (as Richard Newbold)
    Ariel de Ravenel
    • French Official
    Tallulah
    • Ian Board
    Andy Linden
    • Ken Bidwell
    David Kennedy
    David Kennedy
    • Joe Furneval
    Gary Hume
    • Volker Dix
    Damian Dibben
    Damian Dibben
    • Brighton Rent Boys
    Antony Cotton
    Antony Cotton
    • Brighton Rent Boys
    Anthony Ryding
    • London Rent Boy
    Christian Martin
    Christian Martin
    • Bell-Hop
    Ray Olley
    • Boxing Referee
    • Director
      • John Maybury
    • Writer
      • John Maybury
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Discussing how well DVD copies of this movie (about a gay British artist) were still selling in 2012, Sir Derek Jacobi commented, "that's because there are some scenes in which Daniel Craig is stark-bollock naked."
    • Quotes

      Francis Bacon: Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Beloved/Happiness/Practical Magic/Love Is the Devil/The Cruise (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Time On My Hands
      Performed by Al Bowlly

      Written by Vincent Youmans (as Youmans), Harold Adamson (as Adamson) & Mack Gordon (as Gordon)

    User reviews47

    Review
    Top review
    Aimed at a small audience I think and will mostly alienate those outside of its target group
    When British painter Francis Bacon disturbs a burglar in his home, he invites George Dyer to come to bed with him in return for anything he wants to steal. This starts a relationship between the two that is as impatient and untrustworthy as it is passionate. Bacon draws on Dyer to compliment his work while at the same time Dyer begins to feel used and out of his depth in a relationship that draws him into the arty underworld of the time.

    I don't know a great deal about Francis Bacon other than a passing knowledge of his work and I must admit that I had vague hopes that a film about the painter would give me a little more knowledge of him, his work or the circumstances around him; it's a shame then that it didn't really manage to do any of these things particularly well. Instead what it does is deliver a rather pretentious piece of film rather fails to really deliver anything of value for those of us who are not as smart and informed as others. Maybe of Bacon lovers (pardon the turn of phrase) this film serves as a minor insight into his life for them to um and ah over but for me it was simply a collection of blurry shots, overdone pretentious shots and arty sentiment.

    The plot, for what it is, follows Bacon and Dyer together and separately as they destroy one another in various ways. It is as meaningful as watching paint dry because we are never allowed into these people as, well, people and the film seems more concerned with camera movement and minimalist sets. Of course part of this will appeal to the arty crowd as the direction tries to ape Bacon's style but I'm not sure if that was because his estate refused to have anything to do with the film or not. While not rubbish it is aimed at a select audience and I don't think I am in that group; a little annoying perhaps because I felt like the film was looking down its nose at me in the same way that Bacon did with Dyer but I suppose that's what I get for trying out something new!

    What made it more worthwhile though was a collection of good performances throughout; none of them have particularly likable characters but they all deliver with passion. Certainly Jacobi is very good even if I came to dislike his Bacon's pretentious approach to life, art and others, but Jacobi never let up on his portrayal anyway. Craig is a good actor and he is like a hurt animal for most of the time here – eager to please but knowing he is out of his depth and suffering for it. Swinton is OK, Johnson is overdone and the rest of the support tend to just drift around like a collection of back street 'Darling!' clichés. However bleak and unlikeable performances from both Jacobi and Craig are worth seeing.

    Overall this film was wasted on me as it seemed to be aimed at a very specific group of people who are much smarter than I. To me this was annoying as I felt inferior and irritated that the film did not throw me a bone to help me out with the subject. The direction, editing and themes come across as pretentious a bit too much and this did put me off but in fairness I'm not a big Bacon fan so maybe it was my fault. Anyway – fans of Bacon's work may wish to see this film to discuss his life further (whether they agree with the film or not) but for most of us this will come off as an elitist piece of cinema that does nothing to help the unaware and only serves to alienate 'the masses' from art.
    helpful•30
    26
    • bob the moo
    • Jul 30, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Love Is the Devil
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • British Film Institute (BFI)
      • Arts Council of England
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $354,004
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $63,202
      • Oct 11, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $354,004
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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