Mapplethorpe

Name: Mapplethorpe
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: March 1, 2019
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 44
Cast: Brandon Sklenar, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Carolyn McCormick, Hari Nef, John Benjamin Hickey

2019

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Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Mapplethorpe

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Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: March 1, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Brandon Sklenar, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Carolyn McCormick, Hari Nef, John Benjamin Hickey, Karan Oberoi, Karlee Perez, Kerry Butler, Marianne Rendón, Mark Moses, Matt Smith, McKinley Belcher III, Michael Adrienne O'Hagan, Rotimi Paul, Tina Benko

Summary: Robert Mapplethorpe (Matt Smith) is arguably one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Mapplethorpe discovered himself both sexually and artistically in New York City throughout the 70’s and 80’s. The film explores Mapplethorpe’s life from moments before he and Patti Smith moved into the famed Chelsea hotel, home to a world ofRobert Mapplethorpe (Matt Smith) is arguably one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Mapplethorpe discovered himself both sexually and artistically in New York City throughout the 70’s and 80’s. The film explores Mapplethorpe’s life from moments before he and Patti Smith moved into the famed Chelsea hotel, home to a world of bohemian chic. Here he begins photographing its inhabitants and his new found circle of friends including artists and musicians, socialites, film stars, and members of the S&M underground. Mapplethorpe’s work displayed eroticism in a way that had never been examined nor displayed before to the public.… Expand

Director: Ondi Timoner

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Apr 2, 2021

The thing that makes the film stand out is the way it shows artists relating to each other and to their work. It's rare to see a movie about creative people that accurately captures the way they'll size each other up on first meeting and then, once they've determined that the other person is serious, proceed immediately to the sharing of influences and the granular discussion of theory and technique. [2021 Director's Cut] Read full review

David D'Arcy

Apr 27, 2018

The 12-year project – commissioned by the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation – is evidence that Timoner, who made documentaries before, can craft a nuanced dramatic feature. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Feb 28, 2019

Director Ondi Timoner, who co-wrote with Mikko Alanne (based on a screenplay by Bruce Goodrich), has crafted a stylish, evocative, absorbing snapshot of creative expression, artistic ambition, sexuality and eroticism. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Apr 27, 2018

This is, in abstract, a bold and brilliant performance, an act of possession, really, and Smith never personally steps wrong in the film’s 96 minutes. But his work, sadly, is continuously undermined by everything surrounding him, beginning with a script, written by Timoner and Mikko Alanne, that frustratingly sticks to the then-this-happened conventions of a standard biopic. Read full review

Peter Travers

Feb 27, 2019

What’s missing are the moments in between that actually make up a life and give it emotional resonance. Read full review

Richard Scott Larson

Feb 24, 2019

In Mapplethorpe, the ultimate purpose of the film seems to be the reductive portrayal of the artist as yet another tormented queer destroyed by his tendencies toward vice. Read full review

Rex Reed

Feb 28, 2019

For a subject of so much titillating eroticism, the script (co-authored by the director and Mikko Alanne) is as dull as navel lint, the lighting is like an undeveloped hospital X-ray and the director has no idea how to move actors around in frame to make them feel like anything more than talking corpses. Read full review

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User Reviews

JumpCut_Online

Oct 20, 2019

The film’s pacing issues are slightly bothersome, especially the last decade of Mapplethorpe’s life being covered too quickly, but this is a common issue in many biopics. Unlike other biopics, the director and fellow writer Mikko Alanne don’t shy away from depicting the facts of RobertThe film’s pacing issues are slightly bothersome, especially the last decade of Mapplethorpe’s life being covered too quickly, but this is a common issue in many biopics. Unlike other biopics, the director and fellow writer Mikko Alanne don’t shy away from depicting the facts of Robert Mapplethrope’s very controversial life. He was a bigger-than-life character, and any film would struggle to capture this, but it’s clear that Timoner’s film is a tribute to this man. And, if you’re still not convinced, then Mapplethorpe is worth seeking out for Matt Smith’s performance alone… Expand

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TVJerry

Jun 21, 2020

Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe not only created stunning and provocative art, his free-spirited lifestyle was also part of his legend. This biopic basically begins when he and Patti Smith moved into the famed Chelsea hotel, where his imagination blossomed and he met people who wouldPhotographer Robert Mapplethorpe not only created stunning and provocative art, his free-spirited lifestyle was also part of his legend. This biopic basically begins when he and Patti Smith moved into the famed Chelsea hotel, where his imagination blossomed and he met people who would champion his talent. Matt Smith manages to bring the artist to life with wonderful dexterity, he ages effectively, embraces his sexually liberal style with gusto and beautifully captures the concentration of an artist deep in the creative process. The story is told in a straightforward manner with Smith dominating the screen time, but little genuine emotion develops among his friends and lovers. Still, it's an informative look into Mapplethorpe's life and career. For anyone who might not be familiar with his work, there are many examples included, including the most hardcore and S&M subjects.… Expand

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