`Pollock' Paints Dark Portrait of Artist

Pollock
3 1/2 Stars

Art is a struggle, and the constant search to find one's muse has unhinged painters like Van Gogh and Gaugin.

American abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock, famous for his paint-splattered works, faced this same demon during his rise to fame in the post World War II period. He dealt with them through alcoholism and manic behavior, as powerfully illustrated by the Oscar-nominated "Pollock."

Ed Harris plays the title character, and when the movie begins, Pollock is struggling to make a living in 1941 Manhattan.

One day, fellow artist Lee Krasner (Marcia Gay Harden, winner of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar) knocks on his door, beginning a tempestuous relationship that consumes both of their lives as Pollock cycles through bouts of intense creativity and infantile behavior.

He manages to stay sober for a two-year period in which he produces some of his best work, but self-doubt and need for independence push him back to alcohol and towards his downfall.

Harris and Harden both give amazing performances as Pollock and Krasner, and so convincingly portray their intense and complex relationship that it is painful to watch as Pollock progressively loses self-control.

Harris is particularly good at teetering on the edge of Pollock's insanity and proves his Best Actor-worthiness. He's like a child when he doesn't get what he wants and is completely unprepared for the side effects of success. He also deserves props for recreating many of Pollock's most famous works onscreen.

In addition, Harris also took on the task of directing the film. He is blessed with a real-life story better than many written for the screen.

It is intriguing to watch events such as Pollock meticulously creating a mural for his patron, then showing up drunk and uncontrollable at her party for its completion.

But Harris handles the material in such a way that the two-hour running time seems to stretch into oblivion. The beginning scenes in Manhattan are crisp and quickly paced, but once Pollock and Krasner move to Long Island for a less-chaotic lifestyle, the tempo becomes languid and lazy as well.

The last half-hour in particular drags on and on. All the signs point to Pollock's tragic end, but the suspense keeps hammering at you until you just want to get it over with.

While the treatment could have used some tinkering, the power of the story remains. The film might be titled "Pollock," but the story is really about his bittersweet and tragic love with Krasner. With such capable actors taking on those roles, that impact cannot be undermined, no matter what.

The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.