Art School Confidential (2006)

18 out of 21 people found the following review helpful:

Confidentially Disappointing

Jarin from London, England, 25th November, 2006

After a fantastic series of films (Crumb, Ghost World, Bad Santa) from this director, I had big hopes for this film when I saw the trailer earlier this year. I finally got hold of a Region 1 copy of the DVD which has been out for a few months now and I have to say I was sorely disappointed. Despite the promising participation of everyone involved, nearly every aspect of this film is mundane: the pointless storyline, the stereotypical characterizations, the unsnappy dialogue and the unremarkable direction. After squirming through the entirety of this film, I couldn't believe it was made by Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes. If you're a fan of the films listed above, don't expect this one to even come close.

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7 out of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Good actors can't save a poor film

PeterSays from from Romsey, 19th May, 2007

With the extraordinary talents of Jim Broadbent, Anjelica Huston and John Malkovich you would expect something good but 'Art School Confidential' is very, very ordinary. Only watch it if you have absolutely nothing better to do.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

There'll never be another Ghost World

Megs from Glasgow, 25th March, 2007

Well, I'm a big fan of Ghost World. But not only that, I love all Daniel Clowes comics too. So I couldn't help creating huge expectations about 'Art School Confidential' when i heard about it. Not only that, the film's got John Malkovich in it and my so loved Steve Buscemi (just in a very short appearance by the way, but it doesn't matter, he's always worth watching :) I wouldn't say that I loved the film, but I know this is just because I have seen 'Ghost World' before. Said that, Art School has the same sort of rhythm, the very odd and funny characters and absolutely amazing quotes from start to end, just as any d. clowes comics or film. I can see why some people could find themselves dissapointed with this film, but you shouldn't just be watching it expecting a sequel of clowes first film experience. Art School's got a delicious ironic perspective on the Art World and what it takes to be part of it. It is a very realistic point of view about the Art School enviroment and that might be one of the reasons why some people might have problems in watching it. I wouldn't buy the film, but definetely is worth watching it! Ethan Suplee is just brilliant in this film as well!!!!!!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

don't bother

A Customer from south west, 28th November, 2008

This was a total waste of time. I love tonnes of the people in here so I was dead excited but ended up so disappointed. And I hated the ending. I even said to my friends, 'That can't be the end!?' not because I wanted more - but because it was so crappy. I still can't believe how cruddy the end was. Seriously, I don't get it.

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A darker turn

A Customer from Edinburgh, Scotland, 27th October, 2008

Amusing, yes, offbeat most certainly, but not quite as good an overall film as Ghost World, the previous collaboration/adaptation between director and source material. It's a far darker creature, examing all sorts of murky themes, all within an art school setting. Anyone who's been to such a place (I have) will like the gentle piss-taking that goes on. The cast are excellent: the big guns Malkovich (who also helped with the producing), Broadbent and co shine as you'd expect them, but young Max Minghella is the heart of the movie, and does a fine job. The film's problem, and what stopped me from really enjoying it, is that it struggles to balance the quiet humour with its darker content - something Wes Anderson does magnificently. I think this goes back to the source material, Clowes' graphic novel of the same name. Something got lost in the adaptation, and as a result, whilst being very fine in its own right, does not quite work as well as Ghost World. Worth watching though.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

It's like a teen comedy without fart jokes. Kinda.

Bezman from , 18th September, 2008

A parody of art-school stereotypes, you'll find some glimpses truth here but it's all buried beneath a Hollywood romance and wild distortions - most of which help make it a more interesting film, of course. The cartoonish characters were memorable and the ending probably better than any I could have imagined. As long as you're prepared to suspend your disbelief and don't expect any substantial food for thought, you won't be disappointed.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

Good film to watch when no need to concentrate. Katherine Moennig is just great pity not in it enough.

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