Art School Confidential2006
Art School Confidential (2006)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Art School's misanthropy is too sour, its targets too flat and cliched, and Clowes and Zwigoff stumble when trying to build a story around the premise.
Art School Confidential Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Jerome
as Audrey
as Jonah
as Professor Sandiford
as Jimmy
as Sophie
as Bardo
as Vince
as Marvin Bushmiller
as Lonny

as Professor Larry Okamura
as Candace
as Beat Girl

as Eno
as Shilo
as Matthew

as Flower

as Kiss-Ass
as Army Jacket

as Vegan
as Filthy-Haired Girl

as Mom
as Donald Baumgarten

as Preppy Girl
as Professor David Zipkin
as Leslie, Male Model

as Suburban Girl

as Cranky Guard

as Nympho

as Nympho

as Richard Natwick
as Mom Platz
as Art Dealer

as Mrs. Helen Sandiford
as Dad Hugh Platz
as Cynthia Platz
as Broadway Bob D'Annunzio
as Cliffy, Cousin

as Doddering Aunt

as Marie
as Kevin
as Mikey

as Hurst

as Young Jerome
as Vince's Editor

as Vince's Grandpa
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Critic Reviews for Art School Confidential
All Critics (138) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (88) | DVD (7)
Making fun of art students is like shooting Darwin fish in a barrel.
Curiously, this relentlessly cynical tone turns out sounding refreshingly original compared to the usual pieties in the genre.
This smarty-pants campus yarn is on fire with satire.

With an inert suddenness the picture looses both its charm and its nerve, descending into a subplot about a serial killer that stalls everything out completely.
No matter which is the real imitator, life or art, Art School Confidential does its own fine job skewering both.

The film loses its way with multiple subplots, becoming a hodgepodge that isn't particularly hard to follow, but, far worse, provides no compelling reason to bother.

Audience Reviews for Art School Confidential
Man, I wanted to like this skewering of the exploiters who claim to teach art, but the filmmakers didn't trust their own instincts enough, their own vision ... and so added some lame-o bit about a murderer on campus to "liven things up". Too bad. Nonetheless, their are some good performances, particularly Jim Broadbent as the undiscovered artist gestating in murky void, and Sophia Myles as "the muse" (what else?).
Super Reviewer
Art School Confidential is a film that is universally panned by many, and appreciated by a small number. The ones who think it's highly aggravating are usually let down by the fact that this was the second collaboration between Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, who first made the film Ghost World based off Clowes' graphic novel of the same name. Ghost World was disturbing, dark, funny, and full of realism. Art School is much more of a strange commentary on the pretension of art school students. I did like the paradox of what good art is, compared to the fact that good artists are the ones people pay to see. It was a good, insightful look into the politics of the art world, and the tension of the art student, who's only survival is fame, and fame at any cost. I was personally very disappointed at the brand of humor and the lack of follow through on character development. Yes, there are eccentricities, and kookiness to spare, but it is at the expense of the plot and the chemistry between the leads that we must suffer the general annoyances of our main character. I didn't especially hate the main character as many other viewers have in the past, because he's not meant to be personable or empathetic as our protagonist. His fate at the end of the movie is completely believable, even if understandable early in the film. The film has the humor, sexual tension, and lacking characters of the regular slew of indie comedies that sit in the comedy category of the Netflix Instant. There isn't anything new to take away from it, except perhaps a better understanding and appreciation for art and artists, and maybe it will warm your heart to know that this is a love story of sorts. Well, really it's more about obsession and women who would rather be immortalized in paint rather than be a great artist's muse or great love. It's an overly ambitious yet lacking film, and I found it entertaining if not oddly put together.
Super Reviewer
Cast: Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, Matt Keeslar, John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Anjelica Huston, Joel David Moore, Scoot McNairy, Ethan Suplee, Nick Swardson, Adam Scott, Jack Ong, Jeremy Guskin, Monika Ramnath, Isaac Laskin Director: Terry Zwigoff Summary: When his pure genius goes ignored and a brainless jock tempts his dream girl (Sophia Myles), ambitious art school student Jerome Platz (Max Minghella) sets in motion a brazen plan to become an art world hero and win his beloved's heart. John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Matt Keeslar, Anjelica Huston and Ethan Suplee co-star in Terry Zwigoff's dark comedy about an overachiever who goes to extremes to get the girl. My Thoughts: "I saw the trailer and was fooled into thinking this was going to be a quirky film with dark humor. Unfortunately all the humor is shown in the trailer and still there isn't nearly enough. I soon became bored with the film and I thought the main character Jerome was annoying and not likable. I love John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, and I also enjoy Jim Broadbent, but their parts are small and not used nearly enough. The big twist is seen a mile ahead and the ending is how you expect it to end. Definitely something I wouldn't watch again."

Super Reviewer
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