Final Portrait (2017)

Armie Hammer: James Lord

Photos 

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  James Lord : [narrating]  In 1964, I was a young writer living in Paris. I had written a few articles about Alberto Giacometti, who was one of the most accomplished and respected artists of his generation. I had become good friends with Giacometti and his brother, Diego. And one day, after an exhibition, he asked me to sit for a portrait. He told me it would take no longer than two to three hours. An afternoon at the most.

• Alberto Giacometti : [preparing to paint him]  You have the head of a brute.

  James Lord : Gee, thanks.

  Alberto Giacometti : Yeah. You look like a real thug.

  James Lord : Thank you.

  Alberto Giacometti : If I was to paint you as I see you now and a policeman was to see this painting, you'd be thrown in jail, like that.

• Alberto Giacometti : Just so you know, it is also impossible to ever finish a portrait.

  James Lord : What do you mean?

  Alberto Giacometti : Well, portraits used to be finished. They had to be. They were necessary. It was a substitute for a photograph. Now, portraits have no meaning.

  James Lord : So, what we're doing is meaningless?

  Alberto Giacometti : Mm. And impossible. And I'm not even doing it. I can only ever try to do it.

• James Lord : Why on earth would you hide two million more?

  Alberto Giacometti : What else could I do with it?

  James Lord : You put it in the bank.

  Alberto Giacometti : Oh, no. Can't trust banks.

  James Lord : You're Swiss.

  Alberto Giacometti : No. Swiss Italian.