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Poster for Beauty Is Embarrassing

Beauty Is Embarrassing

2012 · 1h 28m Documentary
Directed by Neil Berkeley

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Overview

Raised in the Tennessee mountains, Wayne White started his career as a cartoonist in NYC. He quickly found success as one of the creators of the Pee-wee's Playhouse TV show which soon led to more work designing some of the most arresting and iconic images in pop culture. Recently his word paintings featuring pithy and and often sarcastic text statements finely crafted onto vintage landscape paintings have made him a darling of the fine art world. The movie chronicles the vaulted highs and crushing lows of an artist struggling to find peace and balance between his professional work and his personal art. This is especially complicated for a man who struggles with the virtues he most often mocks in his art...Vanity, ego and fame.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
90%
Tomatometer
Fresh

"Beauty Is Embarrassing" is an undeniably likable film, mainly because White is a likable guy who believes comedy is at least as important as tragedy.

Tom Long, Detroit News
Fresh

Neil Berkeley's infectiously affectionate portrait of artist, puppeteer and genially profane provocateur Wayne White.

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Rotten

An amiable if not especially urgent celebration of the life and work of Wayne White.

Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Fresh

It remains a story at all times - there's a moment at a book signing that will give you a big smile and goosebumps - and it keeps throwing great things to look at up on the screen.

Linda Holmes, NPR
Fresh

His art is a force that can't be contained: No wonder he felt so at home in the warped environs of Pee-wee's Playhouse.

Adam Nayman, Globe and Mail

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