42
Metascore
7 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70Village VoiceChris PackhamVillage VoiceChris PackhamThough visually expansive, however, the film feels emotionally intimate.
- 63RogerEbert.comGlenn KennyRogerEbert.comGlenn KennyDirected by Pappi Corsicato and executive produced, typically, by the subject himself, the movie is never uninteresting but is often surprisingly low-energy and, even more surprisingly, visually drab.
- While Corsicato treats his subject extremely gently – there’s barely a hint of criticism of Schnabel and interviewees tout how controversial his work is without explaining why – his almost idyllic portrayal of Schnabel at work and play nevertheless makes for a largely seductive and engaging experience. But the lack of context often derails the entertaining film.
- 50Los Angeles TimesSheri LindenLos Angeles TimesSheri LindenRather than explore his place in the arts and balance all that adoration with insight, Corsicato opts for hero worship. The result is a visually exciting but emotionally monotonous film.
- 50The Film StageJohn FinkThe Film StageJohn FinkDespite the intimate, conversational style, A Private Portrait feels a bit cold and calculated, with a focus on celebrity versus art.
- 40The New York TimesKen JaworowskiThe New York TimesKen JaworowskiNo commercials are shown during Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait. They would only be redundant. Instead this documentary serves as a feature-length advertisement for the artist, and is about as daring as a billboard for skim milk.
- 12Slant MagazineClayton DillardSlant MagazineClayton DillardThe film is intended to be placed at the altar of Julian Schnabel, an artist so singular that words simply fail.