"Modigliani"

 2004 * R * 2h 8m   I knew next to nothing about the famous painter Amedeo Modigliani, so this was a great introduction to his life. And Andy Garcia and Elsa Zylberstein both do a marvelous job bringing the two star-crossed lovers to the big (or little, depending on where you view this) screen. 

This biopic takes place in 1919 Paris and focuses on the last years of his life, and his ongoing rivalry with Pablo Picasso. Modigliani has a child by his lover Jeanne Hebuterne, however since he was Jewish and she was Catholic, her parents sent the illegitimate baby away to be raised in an orphanage. Modigliani was a drunk and a druggie, and just barely scraped by. However, he enters a lucrative and prestigious art competition, with the hopes of raising enough money to take care of his lover and child. 

The film does a commendable job depicting Paris in the beginning of the last century. The acting overall was remarkable. I especially enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads, and the interactions between Modigliani and Picasso (Omid Djalili). I also thought the use of flashbacks was quite effective in revealing the backstory about the great painter's life. This film made me want to do a bit more research into his life. And that's a perfect compliment to a well-made biopic, in my opinion. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

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