Movieo
Poster for Pollock

Pollock

A true portrait of life and art.

2000 · 2h 12m · R Drama, History
Directed by Ed Harris

Seen it?

Overview

In August of 1949, Life Magazine ran a banner headline that begged the question: "Jackson Pollock: Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?" The film is a look back into the life of an extraordinary man, a man who has fittingly been called "an artist dedicated to concealment, a celebrity who nobody knew." As he struggled with self-doubt, engaging in a lonely tug-of-war between needing to express himself and wanting to shut the world out, Pollock began a downward spiral.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
80%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Harris as an actor does justice to his long-term passion to play Pollock.

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture
Fresh

That altogether rare movie about an artist that works because it takes the art itself for granted.

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Rotten

Just -- yes, just -- one more film about that perennially obdurate subject, an artist.

Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic
Fresh

A difficult and demanding movie, one that rewards the persevering moviegoer just as Pollock's difficult and demanding paintings ultimately reward the steadfast.

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Fresh

Harris ... gives perhaps the performance of his screen career, making the most of his physical resemblance to Pollock while bringing a scary, single-minded intensity to the part.

John Hartl, Seattle Times

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films