High Art (1998)
Bottomline: One of Lisa Cholodenko's earliest directing efforts and worth watching as the first of a trio of Cholodenko films that would include Laurel Canyon (2002) and The Kids Are All Right (2010). Otherwise, be sure you are in a good place mentally before watching this intensely depressing film about ambition, seduction and addiction.
Where Have I Seen Radha Mitchell Before? It was driving me crazy then I figured it out -- she played Lisa, Pita's mother, in Man on Fire (2004).
Where Can I See This Intensely Depressing Film? It is available for rent.
QMR Opinion: This film, combined with Laurel Canyon (2002) and The Kids Are All Right (2010), shows the beginning of the maturation process of a solid director in Linda Cholodenko. High Art is a good film but is weighed down by its incredible desire to meaningful and intense. Laurel Canyon is better but gets wrapped up in its importance. The Kids Are All Right is terrific. I am sure there is a message somewhere in High Art but it gets lost for me. Mitchell is weak as a lead character here and appears out of her depth. Ally Sheedy, who plays Lucy Berliner, is terrific as is Patricia Clarkson, who plays her lover, Greta. For the few minutes she is in the movie, I was blown away by Tammy Grimes, who plays Sheedy's mother. Berliner was once a great photographer but has spiraled out of control because of a drug addiction, which is fueled by Greta and the company she keeps. Mitchell plays Syd and gets a taste of the drugs and of Berliner and so kicks her boyfriend to the curb. Mitchell is needed to step up her game and really drive this movie forward but she simply is out of her league and it shows each time she shares screen time with Clarkson and Sheedy. Let's face it, we all know exactly how this story is going to play out, it's just a matter of watching how Cholodenko unfolds it for us. On a weird note: The sound is not great in this film. I had to turn on the subtitles more than once to catch what they were saying. Caveat: If you are offended by drugs and lesbians, this movie is not for you.
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