Written by Ondi Timoner And Mikko Alanne
Directed by Ondi Timoner
Mapplethorpe: "Take the picture."
Continuing with Pride Month and getting to a movie I've put off for too long, this deep dive into controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe with my favourite Doctor Matt Smith assuming the role certainly had a lot to live up.
A streaming release from 2018, the movie begins with struggling photographer Mapplethorpe meeting Patti Smith (Marianne Rendon) and it's not long before the two of them are pretending to be a married couple to Robert's Catholic parents (as played by Carolyn McCormick and Mark Moses), making art and eventually going their separate ways when its revealed that Robert is actually gay.
Once Robert comes to terms with his sexuality, it's not long before it has a massive influence on his work, starting with his dalliance with David Croland (Thomas Philip O'Neill) before escalating into a full relationship with dealer/collector Sam Wagstaff (John Benjamin Hickey) and a slew of hedonism that would eventually lead to Robert's own passing.
In the meantime, the movie explored the evolution of his art, the boundaries he was willing to push, even if it meant driving his lovers away and undermining his younger brother, Edward's (Brandon Sklenar) own artistic aspirations as Robert was determined that only one of them would be allowed to capitalise on the family name for success.
As we get into the usual debate as to whether or not straight actors should be playing gay characters, especially real life figures as infamous as Mapplethorpe, I gotta admit that while I would've loved to have seen a gay actor in this particular role, there's no denying that Matt Smith gives it his all as the controversial photographer.
Smith delivers a raw, charming, uninhibited performance throughout the movie. Mapplethorpe's strengths and weaknesses, both as a creative and as a real person seem to be on full display here and while you know how Mapplethorpe's story came to an end, this movie certainly captured a perfect rundown of the crucial moments of his life and career.
- While we saw a lot of Mapplethorpe's edger pieces, we also saw that he took pictures for Debbie Harry, Donald Sutherland and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name a few.
- Buffy fans should be interested to know that Eliza Dushku was a producer on this movie.
- Standout music: T. Rex's Children Of The Revolution, Bronski Beat's Smalltime Boy and Roxy Music's More Than This.
- Chronology: This movie takes in the years 1969 up until Mapplethorpe's death in 1989.
Mapplethorpe is an excellent tour de force for Matt Smith and while I might be a tad based, it's by far one of the most interesting roles he's taken on since ditching the old blue box. I wish this movie had more exposure because it's a fantastic piece of gay cinema that needs more love.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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