- Actors: James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, Diana Scarwid, Leon Pownall, Matt North
- Directors: Frank Pierson
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Language English
- Subtitles: French, Spanish
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
- DVD Release Date: 28 Nov 2000
- Run Time: 104 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- ASIN: B00004Z1FO
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 103,781 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an excellent made-for-television documentary drama that presents the true life story of local and national efforts by religious and political right wingers to suppress offensive art in Cincinatti during 1989-1990. The art is by photographer Robert Maplethorpe. James Woods (Dennis Barrie, the curator of Cincinnati's largest museum) is arrested for promoting obscenity and pornography. This follows his booking a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit in Cincinatti which had already stirred up controversy elsewhere in the nation. Diana Scarwid plays Barrie's wife Dianne so well that the two actors are natural and engaging, making it kind of enjoyable to hang out with them. Most of the film focuses on the obscenity/pornography trial ... with the zealous sheriff Simon Leiss played by Craig T. Nelson, prosecutor and the biased judge doing their best to get the jury to convict Barrie.
Making the movie more interesting is the actual footage of Jesse Helms, William F. Buckley, Jr. and Patrick Buchanan lambasting Maplethorpe's work and those who dare to publicly display it. These additions add a frightening reality edge to the story. This is balanced by comments on personal freedom and free expression by Barney Frank, Salman Rushdie and author and Fran Liebowitz. Similar cameo appearances are made by celebrities like Susan Sarandon who personally knew and was photographed by Maplethorpe, as were her son and daughter.
This is very worthwhile entertainment which informs as it delights. In particular, James Woods fans will love his performance as the smart, edgy museum director trying to save himself and his family from the hell fire and brimstone brought down on them by selfrighteous and predatory political moralists. The film is definitely worth seeing.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Following in the footsteps of The People vs. Larry Flint?
16 Feb 2003
Format:DVD
Dirty pictures in no way follows in the foot steps of The People vs. Larry Flint. This movie is primarily from the perspective of a midwest gallery curator who had brought in a touring exhibit of Robert Mapplethorpe's work. The movie is interlaced with interviews of people who had worked with or had known Mapplethorpe as well as images of his photographic works.
This is an Excellent purchase that raises questions in the mind of the veiwer. It is entertaining and to an extent educational on the art of Mapplethorpe, constitutional rights, and how people judge art based on "Their Values and Tastes."
This is an Excellent purchase that raises questions in the mind of the veiwer. It is entertaining and to an extent educational on the art of Mapplethorpe, constitutional rights, and how people judge art based on "Their Values and Tastes."
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Let Freedom Ring
3 Oct 2000
An interesting blend of stock footage and filmed, this is the fascinating true story of the Cincinnati art director who defied everyone and everything to show the controversial photography of Maplethorpe. As a person who was living in Cincinnati at the time of the trial's conclusion, I must say this film did capture the essence of the city's reaction. A Jeckyl/Hyde town, Cincinnati is staunchly conservitive during it's sheriff Simon Leis ruled days; but turns into "Sin"-cinatti at night, a liberal artistic town. These two sides clashed vehemently over the Maplethorpe issue, in fact, it is still a hot topic, 10 years later. The film is an important one in that it reminds us that we must continue to uphold our freedoms and rights, especially the freedom of expression. We all have a right to our own art, and we all have a right to chose what to view; we do not have a right to dictate to others what is and is not art or a viable expression. That is what this film is about.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Important movie
30 April 2004
Format:DVD
This is one of James Woods' best performances. I was also happy to see Diana Scarwid again. I've been a fan since "Mommie Dearest". This film was half movie and half documentary. Interviews and opinions of the people involved were shown. I gave four stars instead of five because even though it is definitely worth seeing, it seemed to get repetitive and long. Also interesting is that all the people who didn't like the photos were all over 70 (big surprise) and still believe gay people have cooties. So there was bias there, for sure. Good movie.
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