Saturday 21 March 2020

Alternate Best Actor 1996: Jeffrey Wright in Basquiat

Jeffrey Wright did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jean-Michel Basquiat in Basquiat.

Basquiat is an interesting, if slightly disjointed film, about the short life street artist turned toast of the art scene of NY of the same name.

Jeffrey Wright has perhaps long been an actor on just the edge of a breakout for what must be said is his entire film career. This as his performance here was his first cinematic role of note, despite acclaim in reception for his work still led to Wright being more or less in this same place over 25 years later. This is once again a shame as Wright's unique talents are clearly on display right from the outset here in the role of Jean-Michel Basquiat which in itself is a considerable challenge, and something the extremely talented Wright is more than up for. Basquiat, despite being about a completely different art era, actually shares several similarities with director Julian Schnabel's latest film At Eternity's Gate. This as both films follow an artist, in almost a manner is to be representative of their style, and despite many different between Basquiat and Vincent Van Gogh, we find a very similar idea at the center of their stories, as presented by Schnabel. This idea being in crafting the way the artist's perspective is fundamental in this existence. As this was found in Willem Dafoe's portrayal of van Gogh in that later film, it is also within Jeffrey Wright's portrayal of Basquiat. This in that his performance too is built up from this idea, and this absolutely essential in terms of granting an understanding of the man, particularly how he exists in the film. This as if a lesser actor was in the role, I think it would be extremely easy to create an excessively grating or even cartoonish character out of Basquiat given his eccentricities, however Wright finds a real truth to him.

Wright's performance is from the ground up so to speak, in that everything that comes from his work is granted in the idea of creating that Basquiat is on a different wavelength from most people. In this portrayal of this though Wright does a few careful things, that really make this a remarkable portrayal. The first in the act of the eccentricity, particularly Basquiat habit of making graffiti out of anything, including the art of others, Wright portrays this as this state of id, rather than any mischief in him. Whether he is painting with maple syrup on a diner table, or technically vandalizing work by Andy Warhol (David Bowie), Wright physically makes it just as though he is infant interacting with his environment. It is just as a natural thing that he presents as just as he would breathing, and shows very much that there is not even a second thought in this, either in concern for what he is doing, nor in terms of doing anything malicious on purpose either. It is just the man being himself. In this is the greatness of Wright's work in that he makes such a tangible portrayal of what is in a way a ethereal figure often in his story. Wright in his unassuming demeanor, and rather timid voice in the role, just simply becomes this man, who is interacting within a world that almost isn't quite his own. This isn't because he's an alien, but rather like van Gogh in "Eternity" he is someone who sees the whole world in a way that simply no one else does, which is a different experience entirely.

Wright is pure in this sense, and there is something innately compelling to watch Wright work here, who seems decidedly unmannered despite technically being very much so. Wright manner as the retiring, and insular not only feels honest, but also even has this notable charm to it. Wright's way is that he never cheats the idea even for a moment, never plays up a scene, even in Basquiat's most flamboyant moment it is just this behavior of the man that still feels like how he interacts with the world, rather than any playacting. A reason for this though is that Wright does not use it as an excuse to close off his performance, and just seem detached or otherworldly. He rather finds a real humanity within the alternate perspective that gives this performance a real power. This as we see particularly in the moments of interacting less so in the art world and more so on the more interpersonal level. One main one being with his brief one with his mother, where Wright reveals what is at Basquiat's heart a real sensitivity, as he tries to speak to her in her ailing state. I love his delivering in this scene as we see Basquiat trying to connect so timidly and nothing but pure concern for his mother in his eyes in the moment. Wright is wonderful in this because within it he finds something genuine within both the flaws and virtues of the man, these that are not at all alien, even if brought on at times by his perspective of the world.

We see this in his scenes with his girlfriend, Gina (Claire Forlani), where he does capture a tenderness, in his modest manner of attempting to connect with her, even if even in this more intimate relationship Wright reveals a distance within the struggle. Wright is fascinating though in that throughout the film we get what is really a shorthand in his performance, in we come to know how Basquiat's reactions mean due to the consistency and vividness of Wright's performance. This as we later see Basquiat reacting to Gina finding out that he cheated on her, he doesn't say a word, but Wright's quietly damaged expression is just so perfect of displaying how the man falls into himself in a way when he is suffering. This is similar as well in just his eyes convey the discomfort when his father, and his wife, that is not Basquiat's mother, come to his art show. This is not delved into yet the wound of this is within Wright's expression so remarkably, however within the way that it is Basquiat. He doesn't yell about it, rather it is this internalization and unease as he seems to not be able to quite express this anxiety the same most would, yet you still understand it through Wright. This grants sense then the companionship we see between himself and Andy Warhol, where there is a real warmth in their technically strange interactions, however what Wright, and Bowie, show is two people on the same wavelength, that is different from all others, connecting in their own way, that is very much off the beaten path. In these moments we see the direct connection in Wright's work where the interactions are of men with almost understanding of this different sight. The man's suffering though then comes from others attempting to label him, and loss of anyone to understand him, which is only exacerbated by the death of Warhol. This where we see him coping with drug use, which Wright portrays as the moments of the most intense moments, of that internalization welling up within him, that is so potently shown within Wright's eyes in this moment. The use of the drugs to be this vain attempt a reprieve from the world that can't quite connect with him. I adore the moments where we see Basquiat directly face questions that pry towards his identity or situations that play upon, and Wright brings this discontent so meekly, yet pointedly as he expresses as the man expresses himself. This as just up front who he is, but in turn that is within his nearly passive state of just trying to be who he is. In the end of the film, as Basquiat is essentially lost in the world, Wright is heartbreaking in his final speech about leaving the city. This in his delivery is rather with this tragic resignation with the sense of leaving the earth entirely as this is this desperation that Wright conveys as a man who believes he will never find his place or understanding from another again. This is a beautiful performance by Jeffrey Wright because he depicts Basquiat as a one of a kind person, however never does so to idolize, simplify or to create a cloying ideal. He does so in creating a real person, unique in their state yet truly human within this idiosyncrasy.

64 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on the cast.

Bryan L. said...

Hopper, del Toro, Bowie, Oldman, Wincott, Dafoe, even technically Jeffrey Wright (though he's the lead). Talk about Character Actor City lol.

Louis: Just curious, what'd you make of the random episodes of The Office that you've seen? I'd been meaning to ask if you've see any from that show.

Luke Higham said...

If I had to guess, the top 5 is:
1. Von Sydow
2. Macy
3. Branagh
4. Wright
5. Spall

Matt Mustin said...

Haven't seen this, but I really want to.

Louis: Please watch Angels in America. Wright is phenomenal.

Calvin Law said...

Outstanding work. And to answer your previous question on the last page, this was one of those I was hoping and am very glad has gotten a 5. I liked most of the supporting cast in this too. As for performances I hope will get 5’s:

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dirty Pretty Things
Anthony Quayle, Ice Cold in Alex
Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
Kim Hye-ja, Mother
Mathieu Amalric, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Paddy Considine, A Room for Romeo Brass
Bob Hoskins, Twenty Four Seven
Tang Wei, Lust, Caution

Luke Higham said...

Matt: What did you think of Pacino, Streep, Thompson, Kirk, Wilson and Parker.

Calvin Law said...

And I agree with Matt. In a case filled with amazing performances by Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman and Mary Louise Parker, he stands out the most I’d say.

Luke Higham said...

Matt: And Ben Shenkman.

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: I'll actually admit I haven't seen the whole thing, but I have seen a good deal of it. Don't think it's fair to give thoughts until I see the whole thing from beginning to end, but from what I've seen everyone is great.

Calvin Law said...

I would need some time to formulate full thoughts but my ranking of the main cast would be: -

1. Wright
2. Kirk
3. Streep
4. Pacino
5. Shenkman
6. Parker
7. Thompson
8. Wilson

RatedRStar said...

Louis: I would say Angels in America should be one of the next TV series that you watch since it is pretty great from an acting point of view.

RatedRStar said...

I should say my favorite performer from Angels was Justin Kirk purely because of how likeable and sympathetic his character was.

RatedRStar said...

Poor William H.Macy, he had to face four performers from the same show at the Emmys LMAO.

Michael McCarthy said...

LOVE this performance, glad you took to it too. At the moment he’s my win, but that may change whenever I find a way to see Hamsun.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: To answer your question from the previous post-

Naseeruddin Shah, Sparsh
Soumitra Chatterjee, Apur Shongshar/The World of Apu
Boman Irani, 3 Idiots
Mathieu Amalric, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Anonymous said...

Louis: Do you like Fleetwood Mac's music? Also, could I have an approximation of your favorite music albums of all time?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: I forgot to list Al Pacino's work in The Merchant of Venice. I'd love for him to have a seventh 5 (I think he's a 5 equivalent for You Don't Know Jack).

Louis: What is your tentative top 5 for 1953 Best Director? I really hope Zinnemann is your winner.

Calvin Law said...

Zinnemann would be a great choice, as would Wilder or Mizoguchi.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: He is a 5 for You Don't Know Jack.

I'd be very pleasantly surprised for him to get a 5 for The Merchant Of Venice when I'm expecting a very strong 4.5 as the film itself isn't all that great.

When all is said and done, he could be sitting on 8 fives if you include Angels In America as well.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: Don't be surprised if he ends up going with Ozu for Tokyo Story whenever he sees it.

Bryan L. said...

Tahmeed: I think Billy Wilder or even Clouzot could also contend for the win.

Anonymous: You didn’t ask me, but I’ll just say that I used to have a Rumours CD that I wore out pretty quickly.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Lone Star as a missed opportunity?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Bryan: Rumours is one of my favourite albums of all time, personally.

Calvin Law said...

Fleetwood Mac is in my top 5 favourite bands, and I’ve read a screenplay of the potential biopic Bryan sent me. It has its issues but I hope it’ll get made sooner rather than later, with a bit of sprucing up.

Bryan L. said...

Tahmeed: Same :D

Calvin: The script to me played out like a music biopic version of I, Tonya. If they ever make it, Gillespie has to be considered.

RatedRStar said...

Fleetwood Mac are pretty great, my favorite song from Stevie Nicks herself would probably be Edge of Seventeen, how did that not win the Grammy over Fire and Ice by Pat Benatar (and I love Benatar usually)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your top 5 Peter Mullan performances.

Anonymous said...

Luke, have you seen The Snowman (2017), if so what did you think of it? And what rating would you give it?

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

I'll Save Bowie and Wincott for the moment.

Hopper - 2.5(His accent is a little too generalized European art dealer type caricature, compared to the real guy who sounds like Werner Herzog. Beyond that though Hopper gives a fine portrayal of sort of the slick manner of the career art dealer, and has a nice moment of sort of somber reaction and then attempted warmth when telling Basquiat of Warhol's death.)

del Toro - 3.5(It's a good performance in terms of creating sort of the spirit of Basquiat initial state of just sort of going with a flow. del Toro brings that together effectively in sort of his mad style of Del Toro, who by the way is another Burt Lancaster type but I digress. It's a good example of that, and stays well as this sort of consistent separation from what Basquiat is going through.)

Oldman - 3(It's a fairly limited performance however he does a nice job as the author surrogate type performance, in just being very generally supportive and interested in Basquiat in their interactions.)

Forlani - 3(Somewhat limited as just the normal girlfriend, however in that she does well in terms of reflecting the frustrations with Basquiat's mistakes and random behavior.)

Also like Love, Posey, Walken and particularly Dafoe in their rather brief moments.

Bryan:

I thought they were more than fine, but not exactly "my tempo" when it comes to television comedies.

Matt & RatedRStar:

Intend to eventually, though this is an ideal time for it.

Anonymous:

Yes, though definitely as a casual fan at most.

To give the shortest answer possible, but also a true one, All the Beatles albums and Ziggy Stardust.

Tahmeed:

Tentatively:

1. Kenjo Mizoguchi - Ugetsu
2. Henri-Georges Clouzot - Wages of Fear
3. Fred Zinnemann - From Here to Eternity
4. Billy Wilder - Stalag 17
5. Anthony Mann - The Naked Spur

Anonymous:

I wouldn't quite call it a missed opportunity in that what the film is, is very much in line with John Syles's usual style, a style I don't quite care for.

Luke:

1. Tyrannosaur
2. Westworld
3. The Vanishing
4. Children of Men
5. Braveheart

Obviously I need to see a lot more from him, as there is a considerable gap between 3 and 4.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Is there any possibility you could do a year by year list for TV performances that you really like/love at some point in future because I'd like to know exactly what the 5 equivalents are.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: A 1. It's shit, end of story, let's move on.



On an honest note though, that film still pains me to this day. What the fuck happened, An extraordinary waste of talent.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Oops, sorry! But yeah, what a disappointment.

Who do you predict will be Louis’ Best Director choices for 1996?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Also, with Continuing series, I'd place them in whatever year they first premiered.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
In no particular order:
Joel Coen - Fargo
Kenneth Branagh - Hamlet
Mike Leigh - Secrets & Lies
Gary Trousdale/Kirk Wise - The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Lars Von Trier - Breaking The Waves or Bertrand Tavernier - Captain Conan

Calvin Law said...

Thornton for Sling Blade is a possibility too.

Jack Narrator said...

What is your ranking of Oscar nominees for best actor? My ranking...
1. Cruise
2. Thornton
3. Rush
4. Fiennes
5. Harrelson

Anonymous said...

Louis

Shouldn't Philip Baker Hall in Hard Eight enter the next ranking? Isn't Paul Thomas Anderson's movie from 1996?

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Perhaps.

Anonymous:

No. Its first non-festival release was 97. Trust me on this one, as this unfortunately came up when I did this round originally.

Calvin Law said...

It was on that day when Louis lost another bit of his soul to Baz Luhrmann...but for me it was Tuesday.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Guys, I have some terrible news. Last night, my grandparents were robbed due to someone drugging them, and a significant amount of money was stolen from them. Please keep them in your prayers.

Mitchell Murray said...

Tahmeed: What an awful thing to have happened! You have my complete and unfailing sympathies, friend.

Calvin Law said...

Tahmeed: That’s awful - people can be so nasty and awful sometimes. Hope everything is resolved and that they take care but how terrible.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: As if we didn't have enough trouble already. My sympathies go out to you and your family.

RatedRStar said...

Tahmeed: That is horrible, hope you and your family are doing ok and know that there are people on this blog that are here for you and here to talk to you if you feel you need someone to talk to.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the scores for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and White Heat?

Luke Higham said...

Well guys, my place of work is closing on Wednesday and I'm rather thankful right now as I was due to go back on Thursday and would've had to wait 1h45m for a return bus home when the pandemic is escalating.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the trailer for The Great (Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult)? Gotta say...I’m VERY intrigued.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: your thoughts and ratings for Maryam D’Abo in The Living Daylights, and Cary Lowell, Robert Davi and Benicio del Toro in Licence to Kill?

Anonymous said...

Luke, having seen Maleficent 2, what would be your thoughts on that film? And would you consider it worse or better than TRoS?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'm pretty sure I gave thoughts on it last year but TROS is worse because there were some expectations and was an unholy mess.

Maleficent 2 was just bland and forgettable with Jolie going through the motions and the only minor bright spot being Pfeiffer.

Anonymous said...

Luke, you indeed gave thoughts on TRoS. What a disaster. Are there any 2019 films you still need to catch up on?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I still have a few to get around to, been quite busy lately.

Luke Higham said...

The UK is officially on complete lockdown. To my fellow Brits, be careful and let us hope for the best.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Michigan is also on lockdown. Stay safe everyone!

Michael Patison said...

Louis: Do you think lists of your Actress and Supporting Actress top 10s are on the cards? I'd love to see them.

Bryan L. said...

Michael: Luke asked him once if he could do that after the bonus rounds, and Louis said he intends to.

Luke Higham said...

Michael & Bryan: I'll probably help him out on that because I've documented the 5s and 4.5s thus far.

Bryan L. said...

Yeah, my home state (California) has been on lockdown too, and knowing how large and crowded the cities are, I really hope it doesn't spread. I live in a semi-rural area, but still.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your rating and thoughts on Raymond Burr in A Place in the Sun?

Matt Mustin said...

I'm generally not gonna talk about it here because, perhaps naively, I'm trying to escape from it somehow, but my god I hope everyone is staying safe.

And it's really scary that you all instantly know exactly what I'm talking about, without me having to name it.

RatedRStar said...

Hope everyone is doing OK, has anyone seen Simon Pegg and Nick Frosts video about the problem?

I wish I had more to do while at home since I am not really in the mood to watch any films, Final Fantasy Remake, Resident Evil 3 and Persona 5 royal dont come out for a bit still.

RatedRStar said...

Gonna watch 7 seasons worth of What's my line lol.

Mitchell Murray said...

RatedRStar: I haven't seen their videos, no, but I did watch the Gal Gadot led sing along of "Imagine" that's been going around.

I have to say, that video has a dislike to like fraction of around 75%, and I don't get it. I think a lot of that stems from people who are projecting their criticism of celebrity culture - which isn't completely invalid - but it does seem rather misplaced for what is honestly just a innocent, seemingly earnest little video.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Max Steiner's score for The Treasure of Sierra Madre, has an appropriate sort of combination of an epic western, with a bit of Mexican flavor mixed in with a sort of mysterioso quality fitting for sort of gold allure. Has a nice balance of tones right within the score, of those different qualities to be something fairly memorable.

White Heat is Steiner going a combination of bombast with a bit of dread. An effective sort of mix between the two that matches the character of Cody particularly well, and offers again the needed intensity.

Bryan:

No surprise as from the writer of the Favourite, with Hoult going full Sam Jaffe there. Could work, not sure if it will though, as such a tone is always tricky, but if they pull it off could be something special.

Calvin:

D'Abo - 3.5(I like her performance as a considerable less sort of lusty Bond girl in almost every sense of the word. She brings a charm though in this greater sort of innocence with the part, even as this technical would be assassin. This with a better than often Bond chemistry in their relationship that is granted deeper vibes than is intended really in the script.)

Del Toro - 3(A good bit of insane Del Toro that works well for a particularly vicious henchman, with a particularly vicious demise, and his manic eyes he can call upon are particularly well used in the role.)

Davi - 3(It is basically him doing his thing, which is sleaze ball criminal type, but it is a fine example of it.)

I don't really remember Lowell's performance.

Anonymous:

Burr - 3(It is a fine Perry Mason audition I suppose, in that he delivers sort of the intense brand of justice, as worded by judicial take down.)