Movies:
Pollock
DVD Release
- Release Date: 2001
- Audio: English 5.0 [Dolby Digital] and 2-channel [Dolby Surround]
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Digitally mastered audio & anamorphic video
- Widescreen presentation
- Ed Harris commentary
- Making-of documentary
- Theatrical trailers
- Link to website
- Charlie Rose interview with Ed Harris
- Deleted scenes
- Filmographies
- Interactive menus
- Production notes
- Scene selections
- Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Biography, Marriage Drama
- Themes: Life in the Arts, Crumbling Marriages, Alcoholism
- Director: Ed Harris
- Main Cast: Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Amy Madigan, Jennifer Connelly, Jeffrey Tambor
- Release Year: 2000
- Country: US
- Run Time: 122 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Artist Jackson Pollock revolutionized American painting in the 1940's with his exciting abstract canvases that used dripped and splattered paint in a manner at once excitingly physical and structurally intelligent. While Pollock became a heroic figure in the art world, his private life was nothing to envy, and this biography looks at both his professional triumphs and personal tragedies. In 1941, Pollock (Ed Harris) was a bitter and struggling painter when he met Lee Krasner (Marcia Gay Harden), a fellow artist with whom he was appearing in a joint gallery show. Krasner was intrigued by Pollock, and immediately sensed the importance of his work; they quickly became lovers, and as Krasner realized his superior talent, she began devoting herself to promoting Pollock's work. When Peggy Guggenheim (Amy Madigan) agreed to present a show of Pollock's paintings at her Art of This Century gallery, his name was made, and a profile in Life magazine solidified his reputation as one of the art world's most important figures. But success did not bring Pollock peace of mind; while he long had a taste for alcohol, his new fame sent his drinking out of control, and his infidelity with numerous women (including Guggenheim) eventually destroyed his relationship with Krasner. Pollock was the first feature directed by actor Ed Harris, who also plays the title role; the cast also includes Val Kilmer as artist Willem de Kooning and Jennifer Connelly as Ruth Kligman, one of Pollock's lovers. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie GuideReview
An auspicious directorial debut from prolific actor Ed Harris, Pollock overcomes its occasional obscurity (a factor that has marred lesser films about painters) to become an effectively detailed look at the unruly soul of an artist. As director, Harris beautifully captures the slowly evolving art world of New York in its time frame with refreshing exactitude, and the screenplay (while sometimes episodic) never resorts to pandering in order to better understand this difficult, often unbearably cantankerous man. Harris excels as Pollock, but Marcia Gay Harden walks off with the picture as his longtime love. Her sublime generosity as a performer, mixed with a passionately rendered portrayal of a woman with no sure next move, combine to forge a unique and truly affecting creation (not to mention an uncanny likeness to the real-life Lee Krasner). The film was the surprise centerpiece picture of the 2000 New York Film Festival, where it played to enthusiastic response, including Harris' much-discussed weight gain (à la Robert De Niro in Raging Bull) for the latter part of the movie. Academy voters acknowledged Harris and Harden with nominations for Best Actor and Supporting Actress; only Harden walked off with a surprise win on Oscar night. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie GuideCast
- Ed Harris - Jackson Pollock
- Marcia Gay Harden - Lee Krasner
- Amy Madigan - Peggy Guggenheim
- Jennifer Connelly - Ruth Kligman
- Jeffrey Tambor - Clement Greenberg
Bud Cort - Howard Putzel; John Heard - Tony Smith; Val Kilmer - William DeKooning; Barbara Garrick - Betty Parsons
