Mapplethorpe is a 2018 American biographical drama film written and directed by Ondi Timoner about the life of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.[1] Shooting began on July 11, 2017 in New York and lasted only 19 days.[1] It premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.[2]
| Mapplethorpe | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Ondi Timoner |
| Screenplay by | Mikko Alanne Ondi Timoner |
| Produced by | Eliza Dushku Ondi Timoner Nate Dushku Richard J. Bosner |
| Starring | Matt Smith |
| Cinematography | Nancy Schreiber |
| Edited by | Lee Percy John David Allen |
| Music by | Marcelo Zarvos |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Samuel Goldwyn Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 102 min 114 min (Director's Cut) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Premise
editThe film depicts the life of Robert Mapplethorpe, a photographer who transformed taboo subjects like gay sex, Satanism, and bondage into beautiful black-and-white images.
Cast
edit- Matt Smith as Robert Mapplethorpe
- McKinley Belcher III as Milton Moore
- Carolyn McCormick as Joan Mapplethorpe
- John Benjamin Hickey as Sam Wagstaff
- Tina Benko as Sandy Daley
- Brian Stokes Mitchell as Father Stack
- Marianne Rendón as Patti Smith
- Kerry Butler as Holly Solomon
- Thomas Philip O'Neill as David Croland
- John Bolton as Harold Jones
- Karan Oberoi as Emilio Acquavella
- Logan Smith as Young Robert
- Mark Moses as Harry Mapplethorpe
- Brandon Sklenar as Edward Mapplethorpe
- Jason Lopez as Tom Baril
- Anthony Michael Lopez as Jack Fritscher[3]
- Hari Nef as Tinkerbelle
- Martin Axon as Martin Axon
- Mickey O'Hagan as Tina Summerlin
Reception
editVariety said that the film fails to capture the controversial nature of Mapplethorpe's work and portrays him as a role model who found his way into the elitist art world. Although the film is not as provocative as Mapplethorpe's photographs, it contains several hardcore scenes, and Matt Smith plays the artist's role until his death in 1989.[4]
RogerEbert.com has a 3-star rating and stated that while the biopic follows a standard format of recounting the life of Robert Mapplethorpe, it stands out in the portrayal of the relationships between artists and their creative processes. The article also praises Matt Smith's performance for its realism and unglamorous portrayal of Mapplethorpe.[5]
Mapplethorpe has received six Audience Awards at Tribeca Film Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival, All Genders Lifestyles and Identities Film Festival, Key West Film Festival, Long Beach Q Film Festival, Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival, Out on Film Atlanta Film Festival, and Best LGBTQ Film at Key West Int'l Film Festival, Best Director at Long Beach Int'l Film Festival, Best Feature Film and Best Director at the Queen Palm International Film Festival and Best Feature Film and Best Director at the Hollywood Women's Film Festival. [citation needed]
Releases
editA director's cut was released in April 2021 with "restored scenes depicting Mapplethorpe’s childhood love of photography, his embattled relationship with his father, and his lingering, ambivalent connection to the Catholic faith".[6][7][8][5][9]
References
edit- ^ a b Winfrey, Graham (3 July 2017). "Mapplethorpe has found its Patti Smith, but it doesn't have her support". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Raup, Jordan (March 7, 2018). "Tribeca 2018 lineup includes Disobedience, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, The Seagull, and more". The Film Stage. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Gremore, Graham (8 March 2019). "Disabled actor Anthony Michael Lopez talks new film Mapplethorpe and being an out gay leading man". Queerty. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (2018-04-23). "Film Review: 'Mapplethorpe'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ a b Seitz, Matt Zoller (2 April 2021). "Mapplethorpe: The Director's Cut". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Biggerstaff, Gerald (1 April 2021). "Review: Mapplethorpe: The Director's Cut". instinct magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Needle, Chael (2 April 2021). "Mapplethorpe: The Director's Cut: Review". a&u mag. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Reynolds, Daniel (3 March 2021). "Matt Smith Gets Explicit in Mapplethorpe Director's Cut Trailer". The Advocate. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Nahmod, David-Elijah (21 April 2021). "Mapplethorpe: The Director's Cut Cinema Review". Outfront Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
External links
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