BOOGIE WOOGIE
UK, 2009. 94 minutes, Colour.
Gillian Anderson, Alan Cumming, Heather Graham, Danny Houston, Jack Huston, Christopher Lee, Joanna Lumley, Simon Mc Burney, Meredith Ostrom, Charlotte Rampling, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgaard, Jaime Winstone.
Directed by Duncan Ward.
A film about the filthy rich, or the filthy and rich. These are not people that most people would like to mix with (though many are pleased to read about them in gossip columns). This is a film about the contemporary art world in London, written by an artist and novelist who also lived in New York, held exhibitions and knows this cutthroat (and knife in the back) world, Danny Moynihan.
The title refers to a painting by Mondrian.
There is a certain curiosity element for audiences to see how this other small percentage live. The screenplay aims for comedy and satire but the antics of artists, dealers and collectors are not particularly funny, especially when they spend a lot of their time and energy, emotional, professional and business double-dealings. There are some humorous moments but more moments that are likely to provoke distaste.
The main advantage the film has is its unusual cast, quite a number of movie high flyers. Most of them give performances on the edge – and sometimes over the top. Danny Huston is a screen presence who can command attention. He does here as an avaricious, principle-less, shrewd art dealer. Skellan Skarsgaard is also effective as a smug and wealthy art connoisseur and collector, with Gillian Anderson as his wife. The owners of the Mondrian, in need of income and eager to sell, are played by Christopher Lee and Joanna Lumley, with Simon McBurney? as their somewhat sinister butler and adviser. Americans Heather Graham and Amanda Seyfried turn up in London as do Alan Cumming and Jaime Winstone (sounding very much like her father, Ray) as a rather warped and ambitious video installation 'artist'.
Had these roles been taken by less known or unknown actors, the film might have made much less impact.
1. A glimpse of an art world? Artificial world? Art culture? The transition from the novel’s New York to the film’s London?
2. The title, Mondrean and his paintings? The painting on show in the Reingolds’ house? Buying and selling, the fire consuming the painting?
3. Damian Hirst, the references, his curating the variety of works of art on show in the film?
4. The range of paintings, artists and their work? Video art and installations?
5. The strong British and American cast?
6. The dealers’ world, Art Spindle and Danny Houston, unctuous and shrewd, phony and avaricious? With Beth in the office, her leaving? With Paige, her father, getting the job? Art’s visits to the Reingolds, the argument about selling the painting, the discussions with Robert Freign? His own painting, the gift? Art and his being in a hurry, the different offers? Exhibitions? The possibility of going to New York with Jean? Bob and supplying information, samples of the paintings? The interview with Dewey, his listening, putting the plan in the garbage? And stealing the idea at the end of the film? Jean moving out and coming to him, his boyfriend? Elaine, chatting with her? Using her for the future? His selling all of Bob’s paintings? Portrait of a dealer?
7. Beth, her friendship with Bob, paying for the breast enhancement, the internet site? Independent? Her work, skills? With Joe, the relationship, the phone call from Jean, her immediately cutting him off? Taking up with Elaine, managing the exhibition, the sexual encounter, filmed, the phony truth? Her father visiting the installation?
8. Collectors: Bob and Jean, arguing the date of their marriage, their lavish and wealthy style, postures? Visiting the galleries? Visiting Art’s rival? The visit to him, chatter, their taste, looking at prospective purchases? Bob and his women? Beth and the breast enhancement? Paige and inviting her to dinner, her being sick, the hospital, the twin organ, the Hirst artwork and the satire? Easily separating from Jean? The discussion with the lawyers and the dividing of possessions? The dogs? Art and his being advised to sell all the paintings – and Jean coming home to an empty house? After all her discussions with Emille about possessions? Emille and her three divorces, shrewd advice for Jean?
9. The Reingolds, their art background, on hard times? The auction and not selling paintings, the Mondrean, Alfred Reingold’s story, often repeated, getting it from the painter? Arguments with his wife? Her desperation? Robert Freign as a kind of sinister presence, offering advice, the deals, the discussions with Art Spindle, the gift of the painting? Bob and his interest in the Mondrean? Alfred Reingold, smoking, the fire, his funeral? Alfreda and her leaving with Robert?
10. Paige, young, skating, the job, ambitions? Flirtation with Joe? With Bob, her meal, being sick, the hospital, the artwork and her reaction? Her future?
11. Joe, artist, callow, his studio, Jean and Beth and his demonstrations of his work? Going to New York with Jean, Beth and the relationship, the phone call and Beth cutting him off? The come-ons to Paige and others?
12. The opening of the film, the video, Elaine, the crash? Elaine photographing everything? Going to the gallery? Her relationship with Jony? Sexual? Using Jony, Jony as a servant? Elaine as tough, her friendship with Dewey, introductions through him, wanting Beth as her agent, cutting off Dewey, Dewey and his upset, coming to the door, pleading, his being filmed, suicide threat? The revelation of his death – and Elaine filming that for the installation?
13. Dewey and his ideas, friends, introductions, at home, art and the discussion, coming back with his card and finding his plan in the bin? Elaine cutting him off, desperate, his death?
14. Audiences identifying with these people, this world? Or not? Interest in observing it?
