DVD Rewind: Art School Confidential

This week, we're turning back the clock a little to look at a DVD release from days gone by. Terry Zwigoff's coming of age tale of a boy finding his voice as an artist and taking the rap for a series of murders.

Try this on for fun, take a friend who has never seen or heard anything about this film, have them watch the first thirty minutes and ask them what it is about. Chances are, he won't have a clue. In fact, at first, the real story of the movie is totally unknown.

The film opens with a young man named Jerome. Jerome is an artist, or rather, he wants to be an artist. So, he decides it would be in his best interest to go to art school. While he's there, he meets some fucking freaks. Now, if you're like me, and have spent some time in an art school, you will know how accurate this is. They're everywhere. He's decent, but, you know, nothing special, and he comes to realize that he needs an edge to out pace his peers and get the bitches. One bitch, in particular, at least.

Her name is Audrey. Played by Sophia Myles, she is totally fine AND you get to see her jubblies (which, I might add, is a big selling point for someone on the fence). Now, Jerome wants to get up in these guts, and I can't say I blame him, but it is his lust that will lead to his downfall.

In search of perfection, Jerome starts drinking, smoking and goes to meet a washed up old artist named Jimmy (played by Jim Broadbent) who suggests that our buddy Jerome should start sucking cock. This would make him more popular but would probably ruin his chances to with Audrey. Well, as it turns out, Jimmy is a serial killer who makes art pieces out of keepsakes from his victims. Jerome sees this work, steals it, and burns down Jimmy's apartment with him still inside. Now all the evidence for the crimes is with Jerome, the real killer is dead, and Jerome's art school rival (oh yeah I forgot about that prick) turns out to be an undercover cop.

So, Jerome goes to jail but it turns out to be the break he needs, he becomes bigger than ever as a world wide famous artist, picking up chicks from all over.

Now, you would think, wow, this is dumb and convoluted. Well, yeah but so is art school, so it's totally realistic. Jerome's descent into madness is extremely well paced. Part of you, the viewer, not entirely knowing what is going on is the subtleties of Jerome's madness.

It was totally all over a chick. Much like the Trojan war. Audrey here is our Helen of Troy, and a fine one she was. That vageen better have been the bomb for all Jerome had to go through though. If it were me, sex with Audrey would have had to have been the cure for cancer for me to have enough motivation to go through all of that crazy shit. Well, that might be a bit hyperbolic. Especially considering how just smoking hot she is, but I digress.

If you like action, excitement, and normal people, this movie probably isn't for you. Go rent Die Hard or Rudy or something. If you like freakish sociopaths with a twist, see Art School Confidential. You'll be glad you did.

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