Art School Confidential [DVD] [2007]

From the creators of my personal favourite 'Ghost World', Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes return with the cynical and caustic comedy 'Art School Confidential'. Max Minghella stars as a recent high school graduate, tackling his first time at Art School with the ambitions of becoming "the greatest artist of the 21st century." This young, naive freshman, looking for love and a rise to fame, learns that the world is out there to simply abate his enthusiasm and dreams. This is especially true when he learns that the art model he is in love with falls for what he considers an atrocious artist. Not only does this turn him to drinking and smoking, but most importantly drives him to betray his love for art and the characters around him. It is difficult to miss the crystal clear bitterness of writer/comic creator Daniel Clowes, and his affinity to the idolisation of the anti-hero. The mixture of contemptuous attitude and comedy is also accompanied by a humourous sub-plot about a serial killer on the Art School campus. Fans of Zwigoff will no doubt be satisfied with the clever writing and impressive set of cast members (Steve Buscemi, John Malkovich and Anjelica Huston), but it still probably won't live up to 'Ghost World' for you. Either way I would still recommend seeing it, but maybe as a rental first.

At one point, Art School Confidential feels like it's going to be a simple teen comedy - but not the tripe served up in the form of `Legally Blonde'. The revelation that Jerome (Minghella) is a virgin at college leads to a series of humourous segments where he is with the ladies and things don't go to plan, and the opening sequence with the Bohemian shoeless student walking on broken glass had me in stitches. So we have a comedy set in an arts college ....whilst a serial killer is on the loose.

The film quickly reassures us that it isn't a hollow conveyor belt film however, it soon becomes a wry jibe at the pretentiousness often associated with the art-world. Giving mega-long metaphysical descriptions for anything and everything, you soon start to look down upon those who look down upon others (as it were!) The snobbish attitudes of some render their characters unlikeable, whilst Jerome remains honestly passionate about his art, and even more passionate about art model Audrey (played by the rather lovely Sophia Myles).

His roommates are brilliant - Ethan Suplee (the big guy from various Kevin Smith films) is fab as the enthusiastic film maker Vince. Obsessed with the Strathmore Strangler, he is making a film about the recent killings and every new killing excites him into a frenzy as he re-works the plot. And Matthew is the most camp person in the film, he `misses his girlfriend' and is shocked at the lack of surprise when he reveals he is actually gay.

Anyway, this film seems like it is covering two different stories - the story of the art school, Jerome, and Audrey, and also the story of the Strathmore Strangler.

The film starts well but starts to flag. Towards the end I felt a bit let down after such promising beginning - but then the two stories converge and the film saves itself.

The poke at the trendy art-set for whom art is more about feeling superior than the art itself reaches a climax when the poignant plot around washed up alcoholic artist Jimmy (played by the fantastic Jim Broadbent) reaches its conclusion. Some of the questions raised about art and its value are valid ones and I found myself spending some time after the film formulating my own definition of Art. Look out for Ethan Suprlee dressed as a convincing Keven Smith at the end of the film, brilliant!

This is a good film but it is not in the same league as Ghost World though nothing could really live up to that film.

Much like Ghost World there are a glut of minor characters who deliver a few brilliant lines and then exit - especially watch out for a character called Candace (Kate Moennig).

The lead characters are the alluring Audrey (Sophia Myles) and Jerome (Max Minghella) who has the the most beautiful eyebrows known to man.

The film has a bright technicolour comic book feel to it and there are plently of laughs as typical art student types are made fun of in the beginning sections of the film.

The film's criticism of modern art is much like Stuckism's critique of modernism - acerbic and contemptuous. However, I find this unappealing as I personally love the work that modern artists such as Tracey Emin have produced. One thing I don't understand is how someone who loves Picasso (Jerome) can have such a traditional approach to art and have such conservative views.

Apart from the hatred of arty pretention and the comments on the sometimes self indulgent nature of modern art, the real focus of the film is the tender love story between Audrey and Jerome. There are some really heartbreaking scenes involving Jerome when all his efforts to win Audrey's love go to waste. The final scene is refreshingly uplifting especially after the onslaught of negativity.

The best thing about the film is John Malkovich's performance as an overblown frustrated teacher with unrealised artistic ambitions.

This is definitely worth watching but falls short of being the brilliant movie it wants to be.