I should state right off that I'm a big Van Gogh fan and, perhaps, that's what made me expect more from this film.
The film, itself, is beautifully made. The scenes from real life support the paintings that Van Gogh made of them. You can see why the landscapes and people inspired his art. No, the visual elements were not the reason for my disappointment.
The problem I have is in the acting. I just didn't feel like I was getting a true insight into Van Gogh. I thought his eccentricities and psychological problems were soft-pedaled. I also found no sincerity in his interactions with Gauguin and others. The film lacked an emotional hook. Although I like much of what Dafoe does, I felt he was not the right actor for this part. Each actor seemed concerned with saying their lines and nothing more. Too bad.
I also felt that the film was disjointed with scenes jumping from one to another for no apparent reason. But if you like good scenery and looking at Van Gogh's paintings you'll probably be happy.
The film, itself, is beautifully made. The scenes from real life support the paintings that Van Gogh made of them. You can see why the landscapes and people inspired his art. No, the visual elements were not the reason for my disappointment.
The problem I have is in the acting. I just didn't feel like I was getting a true insight into Van Gogh. I thought his eccentricities and psychological problems were soft-pedaled. I also found no sincerity in his interactions with Gauguin and others. The film lacked an emotional hook. Although I like much of what Dafoe does, I felt he was not the right actor for this part. Each actor seemed concerned with saying their lines and nothing more. Too bad.
I also felt that the film was disjointed with scenes jumping from one to another for no apparent reason. But if you like good scenery and looking at Van Gogh's paintings you'll probably be happy.