‘Mapplethorpe’ fails as biopic, succeeds as intro to an artist

There are two things that make the flawed “Mapplethorpe” worth a watch: Matt Smith’s dedicated performance, and a reverent inclusion of so much of the artist’s work. Despite a slightly shaky Queens accent, Smith (“The Crown”) is captivating as the brilliant, controversy-courting photographer who died of complications related to AIDS in 1989. Mapplethorpe’s homoerotic images, which caused so much legal and cultural upheaval in the late 1980s, remain as challenging and unique as ever. Unfortunately, the movie around the actor and his art devolves into standard-biopic paces. “With every pound I lose,” an ailing Mapplethorpe says, “it seems I gain more fame.” Even on the off-chance he really said it, it still sounds like cheeseball basic-cable exposition. Director/co-writer Ondi Timoner, who was behind “Dig!” — the excellent 2004 rock documentary — seems a little at sea scripting drama. Her depiction of Mapplethorpe’s early years cohabiting with a young Patti Smith (Marianne Rendón) plays like a pat best-of collection of vignettes, the opposite of the rock legend’s exquisite memoir of that time, “Just Kids.” But when she exits the film and Mapplethorpe begins to embrace his fluid sexuality and fascination with the BDSM lifestyle, the film gains energy, even as its tragic story arc is always clearly telegraphed. Timoner tiptoes around Mapplethorpe’s dubious treatment of some of his black photo subjects, particularly one lover named Milton (McKinley Belcher III), and never really succeeds at letting us into his inner life. But she’s crafted a gorgeous intro to the artist, likely to inspire at least some viewers to learn more on their own, and maybe check out the new Mapplethorpe show at the Guggenheim. Share this: https://nypost.com/2019/02/28/mapplethorpe-fails-as-biopic-succeeds-as-intro-to-an-artist/ The post ‘Mapplethorpe’ fails as biopic, succeeds as intro to an artist appeared first on My style by Kartia.