I saw Basquiat the movie, and it wasn't what I expected. Although, I am not sure what exactly I expected. Before watching this movie, I had no knowledge of John-Michel Basquiat, except for the slides that were shown in art appreciation of his work. I was quite confused by his economic status, did he have money and pretend to be poor? Or was he actually poor because he didn't get along with his wealthy parents? He was sleeping in a box in the beginning and then he was staying at his friends house, then he had his own place, then he lived with his girlfriend and then someone said something about his parents having money, I was very confused by all of this. Also, I didn't know that Andy Worhol was whacked, but I guess all creative people have to be at least a little crazy, that's not a bad thing. David Bowie was very endearing as Worhol, I really liked the way he played it. Another thing that surprised me is that people were smoking in buildings, I wasn't really around back when that was aloud so it was kind of surreal to me. And it looked like Basquiat constantly had a joint in his hand! I don't know how things were back then, but smoking weed in an art gallery? I just don't see how that's appropriate, maybe they let him get away with more because he's the revered artist, but that's crazy! .
Basquiat really showed the bad side of the art world, a side I had never contemplated before. For instance, when Basquiat was sleeping in the box outside and Rene was on the bench, Rene didn't even acknowledge him when he stepped out of his box. They ran into each other a few more times without any conversation or acknowledgement. Until they were both at a party and Basquiot had some of his work there, Rene saw it and all of the sudden, he cared who that grubby looking black boy was. That's so superficial. Then Rene took him under his wing, but once everyone heard that Basquiat was the hot new thing, they all wanted a piece.