Released nearly a decade after his death, Julian Schnabel’s Basquiat (1996) remains a polarizing, dreamlike capsule of the 1980s New York art scene. As the first feature film about a painter directed by a painter, it offers a unique—if highly subjective—lens into the meteoric rise and tragic fall of Jean-Michel Basquiat. A Star-Studded Time Capsule
The supporting cast reads like a "who’s who" of 90s cinema, including as the loyal friend Benny, Gary Oldman (playing a character based on Schnabel himself), Dennis Hopper , Parker Posey , and Christopher Walken . Art Mimicking Life (and Vice Versa) Basquiat (1996)
The film is perhaps most famous for its incredible ensemble cast: Released nearly a decade after his death, Julian
delivers a breakthrough performance in the title role, capturing Basquiat’s sensitive, prickly, and often misunderstood persona. Art Mimicking Life (and Vice Versa) The film
The Crown and the Concrete: Revisitng Julian Schnabel's Basquiat (1996)