Van Gogh
(1990/BBC)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Telefilm: B-
Taking on
the life of Vincent Van Gogh is not easy.
Vincente Minnelli (Lust For Life)
and Robert Altman (Vincent & Theo)
have delivered the most famous theatrical film tellings, so I wondered what a
British telefilm that had only been seen by so many could accomplish. Despite some cheeky, unnecessary moments,
Anna Benson Gyles’ Van Gogh (1990)
is a pretty good telling of how he was an outcast, eccentric, fighting against
issues with his own mental health and an even unhealthier society.
Linus
Roache stars as the tormented artist, dealing with his dysfunctional family,
his wacky relationship with brother Theo, ignorance of the time, loneliness,
and so much more ugliness in a life in which he gave much that he would ever
receive. Running a brisk 100 minutes,
the Patrick Barlow teleplay is smart, consistent, interesting and well-rounded
enough to compete with its theatrical counterparts. Too bad a modern TV reporter shows up as a
strange “breaking of the 4th wall” gag that does not work, or a
similar conclusion in which a Japanese businessman asks if he can buy one of
his paintings. One had sold for a record
dollar amount. Both moments hurt an
otherwise solid TV movie.
The 1.33
X 1 image is not bad for its age, though it has some detail limits and colors
seem to have slight problems. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo is good, simple and clean for its age, but has no surrounds. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
