18th July, 2008 Login • Register
Search This Site
Klimt (2007) DVD Review
Klimt (2007) DVD Credits:
Klimt (2007) Directed by:
Raoul Ruiz
Klimt (2007) Written by:
Raoul Ruiz
Klimt (2007) Cast:
Stephen Dillane, Saffron Burrows, Veronica Ferres, John Malkovich
Klimt (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Klimt (2007) DVD Release Date:
8th January 2008
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

User Rating:  Log in to rate this DVD
Klimt (2007) Synopsis:

A portrait of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt whose lavish, sexual paintings came to symbolize the art nouveau style of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Klimt (2007) DVD Review:

Winner for Best Film at the Moscow International Film Festival and yet Klimt will subtly slip under most film audience’s radar. Why is that? Good question. Is it because it is a foreign film? Possible but doubtful considering the amount of foreign films that astute audiences choose to view. Is it because it is an abstract art-house film that defies modern Hollywood convention? Maybe, but a large amount of people still gets a chance to catch David Lynch’s latest work so there must be something else. Whatever it is, I don’t like it. Yes, this is a film that could never be made in America; not because wealthy independent filmmakers don’t have the capacity but because they simply don’t make films like this. But why not embrace something so different and thought provoking? After all this is technically a biopic. Alas, I have no answers.

Gustav Klimt (John Malkovich) is an intense foul-mouthed artist finally silenced by his deathbed. As he lies there unconscious, he recalls all the sensual and passionate decadence of his past consisting of, but not limited to, his numerous affairs and struggles for artistic freedom. In this biographical fantasy, Klimt wanders back to the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris where he meets a most mysterious dancer named Lea de Castro (Saffron Burrows). She becomes his muse and begins to personify all of his erotic ideals and carnal desires. The final eighteen years of Klimnt’s life play out as he inches closer to death.

What’s remarkable about this film, besides Malkovich’s performance, is the fantasy quality. There are literally walking allegories we must interpret and outbursts that don’t seem to make perfect sense at the moment they occur. Klimt begs a second viewing because it is a complex piece of art that gains appreciation as you let it soak in. One of the hardest parts about watching this film is forcing yourself to break out of the regressive moviegoer mode that is so common. This is not a popcorn movie. This is an avant-garde piece of work that succinctly depicts a true to self artist while letting the ideas and magic that surrounded the man become present in a tangible manner. It’s a film that will grab you if you just reach out and meet it.

As much as I sing praises of Raul Ruiz (Time Regained) for the wonderful craftsmanship of this film, it didn’t seem full. It was something new and something that grabbed me but it also lost me at times. The cinematography is superb and one wonders how the film is able to pull off some of the unconventional techniques such as having an ever-revolving conversation in a stationary room. It feels like a merry-go-round but it works. But then at times you’re either thinking about something you’ve just seen or trying to make sense of something earlier and it hinders you from fusing with the current moment. This is a thinking person’s film and that’s why I like it but perhaps some better pacing at times could help the audience stay in the groove.

The Special Features are marginal at best. The “Making Of” featurette is adequate and dawns some knowledge on what it took to make this production happen, ranging from costume design to studio funding to recreating artwork. It’s informative but it doesn’t make up for the fact that the only other feature is an Original Theatrical Trailer.

Klimt is something fun and different filled with entertaining takes on morals, sexuality, and genius. Seeing the early twentieth century depicted with this kind of tone is highly enjoyable. And although we might not always be on the same page as Raul Ruiz, we can appreciate what he has created because of what it is.

Our Rating: Extras Rating: User Rating:  Log in to rate this DVD

Klimt (2007) DVD review written by: Bryce Carlson

Content Management System provided by P J Thomson - Freelance Web Design - PHP/MySQL Development