Iconic canvas "The Persistence of Memory" (melty clocks) is key to a flashback of lifelong lovers Dali and Gala bond over his genius, yet it is shown in disappointing silhouette, sucking the life right out of the scene. Any film featuring a grand master should be swimming with his art, for without it he is just a man, and in this case, a bit of a buffoon. The lack of visual masterpieces in this late life biopic is truly embarrassing.
As an emperor without art (clothes), Dali prances around his over the top parties, directing young pretty things for his voyeuristic pleasures. Mod pop fills the soundtrack whilst seventies overindulgence flows freely. Fun! Fun for a minute at best, yet with no proper follow through. "Daliland" offers no clue as to the genius here, or even a hint of what makes the cartoony Dali tick. A film about Dali, one of the greatest artists of all time, without exploring Dali. Weird.
Mary Harron has directed better - "I Shot Andy Warhol" - but not for quite a spell. No comeback here am afraid. Exploring Dali's latter career spiral through the eyes of a young gallery assistant is ripe for adventure: the eye candy, the groovy characters, the debauchery, the cocaine, and yet it is quite lifeless. Boring actually. Worse, Ben Kingsley and Barbara Sukowa as the bickersons are dreadfully one dimensional, taking turns in an overacting contest. They both win, and the movie loses. What a frustrating stumble.
A film rife with juicy ingredients ready to burst from the screen in a rainbow of colourful magic, is instead a quick remedy for insomnia troubles. Hiss.
As an emperor without art (clothes), Dali prances around his over the top parties, directing young pretty things for his voyeuristic pleasures. Mod pop fills the soundtrack whilst seventies overindulgence flows freely. Fun! Fun for a minute at best, yet with no proper follow through. "Daliland" offers no clue as to the genius here, or even a hint of what makes the cartoony Dali tick. A film about Dali, one of the greatest artists of all time, without exploring Dali. Weird.
Mary Harron has directed better - "I Shot Andy Warhol" - but not for quite a spell. No comeback here am afraid. Exploring Dali's latter career spiral through the eyes of a young gallery assistant is ripe for adventure: the eye candy, the groovy characters, the debauchery, the cocaine, and yet it is quite lifeless. Boring actually. Worse, Ben Kingsley and Barbara Sukowa as the bickersons are dreadfully one dimensional, taking turns in an overacting contest. They both win, and the movie loses. What a frustrating stumble.
A film rife with juicy ingredients ready to burst from the screen in a rainbow of colourful magic, is instead a quick remedy for insomnia troubles. Hiss.
- hipCRANK.