If you’ve ever seen a photograph taken by famed artist Robert Mapplethorpe, chances are high that it stopped you in your tracks, and for a moment, took your breath away. The stark images of naked men intertwined with each other, limbs in knots, are clearly provocative and bold–this is apparent even to the untrained eye. But it’s the subtext of sexualized flowers within them that really shows off Robert’s innate artistic genius. How he is able to take something so ordinary and add such deep, emotional meaning is why his is considered one of the most celebrated and controversial artists of the 20th Century.
Director Ondi Timoner attempts to breathe new life into her 2018 artist bio-pic Mapplethorpe with her new The Director’s Cut (now streaming on digital platforms), featuring an all-new soundtrack and previously unseen footage of Robert’s childhood. Seeing the 2018 film’s Rotten Tomatoes score may make you hesitant to invest two hours into watching this new version, and unfortunately The Director’s Cut doesn’t add enough to improve that thought.
Shot on both super 16mm and 8mm, we are transported to the grungy NY art scene where Robert Mapplethorpe (Matt Smith) and his partner Patti Smith (Marianne Rendón) are just getting their start. It’s not long before Mapplethorpe, who has been suppressing his sexually curious nature since childhood, feels comfortable enough to embrace his authentic self. This act of self-acceptance is the catalyst for Mapplethorpe “The Artist” to thrive. So begins his journey, where he forms a relationship with powerhouse art collector Sam Wagstaff (John Benjamin Hickey), conquers the art world, and ultimately succumbs to AIDS at 42-years-old.
The film itself feels stale in comparison to its lively and flamboyant subject, which is the biggest disappointment here. The performances are risky, especially for Matt Smith who is naked in a handful of scenes, but it feels like there’s a layer of Saran Wrap over the film that’s keeping everything from fully expanding. What’s missing is an organic fluidity–scenes feel overly scripted and rehearsed in a soap opera sense, which is a shame given the loose cannon nature of Robert’s life.
If you’re looking for more insight into Robert, his life, and his career, you’d have better luck with the HBO documentary Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures. This Director’s Cut, unfortunately, proves that sometimes bigger isn’t always better.
