The Movie
The independent film Boogie Woogie provides an interesting look inside the bizarre world of art, from the perspective of dealers, collectors, and the artists themselves. A work of fiction, it is however well-researched, recounting what are probably commonplace lies, betrayals, and egos run wild in what can be a very unpleasant business.
When bills start piling up for the elderly, infirmed owner (Christopher Lee) of Mondrian's first "Boogie Woogie" painting, a much-sought-after masterpiece, a motivated dealer (a standout Danny Huston) and a deep-pocketed collector (Stellan Skarsgård) on the verge of backing his own new gallery begin covertly vying for it. Meanwhile, a struggling novice manager (Alan Cumming) is about to lose his only artist to an ambitious, somewhat unscrupulous "friend" (Heather Graham), whose old job is being filled by the doe-eyed next generation (Amanda Seyfried).
The scheming, conniving and backstabbing all builds to a big twist (with an off-the-wall little one thrown in there, too), capped by some keen observations and judgments about the meaning of art itself, and the unavoidable scene which springs up around it.
The Picture
The aggressiveness of the camera work and the overall look suggest that this indie was shot on video, presented here at an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. There's a softness to the image, and a modest harshness at times, but not so much that we can't appreciate the difference when we cut to scenes from one character's cruder video self-portrait. There's noise, and out-of-focus areas of the frame tend to be visibly compressed. Blacks lack subtlety, and some of the scene transitions are tainted by artifacts. But it's fine in the many slower, dialogue-driven scenes.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is utilized in some subtle ways: a specific voice here, the presence of traffic in the rears, environmental noises, the ambience of a nightclub or a party, or the din of a particularly chatty gallery opening. A fitting jazz soundtrack floats above it all, and while the audio is fine, it really is not exceptional in any way. A Linear PCM stereo track is provided as a simpler yet high-quality alternative.
The Extras
The only bonus material is just a brief trailer (HD) and a TV commercial (SD). With such a stellar cast, some interviews might have been fun, or perhaps a Q&A with Danny Moynihan, who adapted his book for the film, or even some background on the works of Mondrian.
Final Thoughts
The final scenes bring a measure of closure to these characters' stories, while hinting at their future. Boogie Woogie suggests that art should not be stagnant, some believe that it needs to be bought and sold regularly, and that it's all an endless cycle. In its poignant revelations, the movie itself is something of a work of art, albeit one which can be enjoyed in a single evening, then shared with the next viewer, perhaps via a Netflix envelope.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
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