Pollock

views updated

Pollock ★★★ 2000 (R)

Firsttime director Harris (who also stars) scores a personal triumph with his bio of abstract expressionist artist Jackson Pollock (whom the actor resembles quite astonishingly). Pollock is a troubled soul, beset by alcoholism and insecurity, who leads himself down a selfdestructive path. The film covers 19411956 as Pollock struggles to find his artistic breakthrough and marries fellow artist Lee Krasner (Harden), a tough New Yorker who takes his career in hand, but his success only exacerbates Pollock's problems. Solid production with a couple of great leading performances; based on the book by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith. 122m/C VHS, DVD . Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Amy Madigan, Jennifer Connelly, Jeffrey Tambor, Bud Cort, John Heard, Val Kilmer; D: Ed Harris; W: Barbara Turner, Susan J. Emshwiller; C: Lisa Rinzler; M: Jeff Beal. Oscars '00: Support. Actress (Harden); N.Y. Film Critics '00: Support. Actress (Harden).

More From encyclopedia.com