Thursday Movie Picks-Movies about Artists

Ok I'm loving this week's theme because I love art! I love reading about artists and I love reading about their works so whenever a film comes on about an artist I want to see it. There are some I have not seen which is horrible ( Pollock, Frida)  but I will always try to watch any that come around my way. I have also decided to go the more biographical route about artists that really did exist rather than about a film about a painter. Now, head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what the others have chosen.

1. REMBRANDT-1936

Rembrandt is one of my favourite artists and this is one of my favourite films starring the great Charles Laughton as the famous painter. It details his fame, the death of his beloved first wife and his fall from grace  since he chose to paint what he wanted to paint not what was expected. He found solace in his last marriage  played by his real life wife, Elsa Lancester. I loved the lighting of this film which truly does evoke the Rembrandt lighting that one would often see in silent films. I have been enriched to see many of his works especially the great Night Watch and this film really helps showcased what this man believed in and how rose to great heights only to die a pauper.

2. THE GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING-2003

This gem stars Colin Firth as the famed painter whom we know very, very little about and have so few of his great paintings. It is not a true biopic since this is more an idea of what might have happened since the girl in this famous painting seems to pop up in other paintings. This girl is played by Scarlet Johansson and she does a great job playing a member of the help to Vermeer. Vermeer is in a marriage that is difficult to say the least because of his wife's jealous ways. The cinematography is also wonderful because it uses the Blues and yellows that Vermeer loved. There is a sensuousness to this film without showing anything more than Johanssen's hair when she takes off her bonnet( which was quite seductive back in that day).

3. RENOIR-2012

My hubby and I were able to see this French film at the theatre that no longer is around(bummer). It takes place in 1915 when the famed painter is nearing the end of his days and his young son, the future famous French Film director, Jean Renoir, is trying to find out who he is after he is wounded in the First World War. A young lady comes to Renoir's home in the country to be his model and he finds his final muse. Renoir suffered from severe debilitating rheumatoid arthritis in his later years and would often have to tape the paint brush to his hand since he could not hold the brush any more but he still had to paint. The young girl becomes the young Renoir's lover and she seems to be their muse and their saviour even though she also seemed to be a bit of a bitch actually. In fact Jean Renoir married her ( Andree Heuschling) and she starred in many of his early films. Again, the cinematography is so beautiful and evokes the impressionistic beauty of Renoir's works.

What films can you think of? Do you love art and what style is your favourite?

3 great artists...