Review by Connor Moriarty
More
than Just a Gimmick -Classic Hollywood
director William Castle, was a pioneer of the “gimmick film.” When his Vincent
Price shocker, The House on Haunted Hill,
was screened in theaters, fake skeletons would fly through the auditorium.
So, while the film itself may have been clichéd, even by the standards of its
contemporary audience, the showmanship on display made for an exhilarating
experience overall.
As with
all the films mentioned though, backlash came swift and hard following all the
praise. It makes sense; when films like these are marketed; trailers, posters
and press releases often focus on the style of the piece and not the substance.
2017 saw the release of Loving Vincent. The
film recounts the life of the Father of Modern Art, Vincent Van Gogh. Although,
it features actors and their likenesses, the entire film is animated with oil
paintings and charcoal drawings – all in the eponymous artist’s style.
View Trailer:
Lust
for Life
How easy
it would be for this film to become lost in its method and neglect its mission.
Van Gogh’s is a story of loneliness, perseverance, and dedication. To let all
of these elements fall to the side in favor of making something pretty, would
be a disservice to his story. Loving
Vincent gracefully overcomes this concern. The magnificent art direction
marries wonderfully with a creatively, compelling story. In fact, the film’s
style elevates its substance.
Before we
touch on the art direction and animation in the film, it’s important to discuss
the appropriately, unconventional method in which the story is told. Vincent
Van Gogh is, for the most part, a specter in this film. Although there are
several scenes in which he can be seen, he rarely speaks. The majority of the
film examines how other people saw him, particularly those few who considered
themselves close.
The
character the audience follows, becomes embroiled in the search for the truth
behind Van Gogh’s death. It’s easy to identify with his search for justice
because we want the same. However, many characters make it clear that how he
died isn’t really of any consequence. According to Dr. Gachet, the fact Vincent
may have been murdered didn’t even mean much to Vincent himself. Especially in
today’s context, the truth doesn’t matter. As Marguerite Gachet eloquently puts
it “You know so much about his death, but what do you know of his life?”
Pictures
Speak Louder than Words
While
those close to him tell us of the man, the film shows us. From the opening
credits, the film assaults the eyes with thousands of gorgeous, meticulously
constructed frames. Seamlessly intertwined, oil paintings and charcoal drawings
move with a natural flow. Every character is introduced by their original
portrait.
As clichéd
as it sounds, much of this simply just has to be seen. One particular, jaw
dropping shot, has Vincent staring at his reflection in a small basin of water.
Through the ripples, the small details of the bowl can be seen alongside
Vincent’s face. He then reaches into the water to cool himself. The small
details remain undisturbed and the reflection eventually returns to its
original state. I had to rewind this scene the first time I saw it.
Animation
in and of itself is a meticulous and taxing work. Thousands upon thousands of
frames have to be drawn, in order to create just a short sequence. No wonder it
took nearly three years for 100+ artists to complete this effort.
To Love Vincent
In many
ways, the effort of everyone involved in this film reflect the efforts of Van
Gogh himself. The man threw himself into his craft. There wasn’t a day that
went by he didn’t continue his work and it shows. As the film asserts and shows
us, Vincent’s life was present everywhere. From those he held dear, to the many
pieces of art he created. To love Vincent Van Gogh’s art, was and is, to love
Vincent Van Gogh.
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For more on Loving Vincent: http://lovingvincent.com/
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