Ed Harris directed as well as starred in this biography of the American painter Jackson Pollock. The screenplay, written by Barbara Turner and Susan Emshwiller and based on the book _Jackson Pollock: An American Saga_, centers primarily on the period between 1941 when Pollock was living on the edge with his brother's family in New York City, and 1949 when he made it big and was featured in Life magazine. Pollock is depicted as an alcoholic child who could be violent and vicious when drunk. He meets another painter, Lee Krasner (Harden) who basically gives up her career to marry Pollock and nurture him and his career. The artist dies in an auto accident in 1956, at the age of 44. Although Harris and Harden do a titanic job of acting (and John Heard, Val Kilmer, and Amy Madigan -- Mrs. Ed Harris -- may be enjoyed in supporting roles), the story never really gets inside Harris or his art. The perky soundtrack includes everyone from Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday, and Louis Prima to Nappy Brown, Buddy Tate, and Tom Waits.
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The review of this Movie prepared by David Loftus
This is a very detailed story about the life of the mentally ill artist Jackson Pollock(Harris). His lover/wife is played by Gay Harden. The movie could have been a lot more well done if it had been slightly more condensed. Certain parts of his life were entirely too drawn out for anyone to sit there and watch it. The basic jest of things with him is that Jackson's wife Lee (Gay Harden)helps him through the strange and demented life of a starving artist. The movie follows him all the way from his mid to late twenties up until his death(car crash) when he was around 50. Harris does an excellent job as an alcoholic schitzophrinic loner but his role reminded me all to well of the movie Jackknife where he plays an alcoholic veteran. His methods seem to be the same in this as they were in the earlier film. The movie was very well done except for the fact that it was to lengthy and could have been 45 minutes shorter.
The review of this Movie prepared by dino
