Painter

The positives far outweigh the negatives in this trim little offering from a new writer/director. Very sturdy performances from good actors provided with blunt, at times funny, and taught dialogue. A drama more than a thriller, but twisty-turny and unfurling. An adept hand behind the camera. Thousands of lovely ideas on the screen, well composed, always lovely to look at.

I also did a little research afterwards and the director shot this whole thing in 16 days... Say WHA? Can't wait to see what he does next. Definitely worth a watch. I only took one star off because the first five minutes of the film felt a little slow for me, but it very quickly took off from there. I stumbled upon this on Instagram and decided to give it a shot not knowing what to expect. I was genuinely VERY impressed with the director, the photography, the whole vibe of the thing including the music. I dont know anything about the art world, so this was fun. Gorgeous, rich looking, beautifully acted and shot. Great work. Thanks for making this.

Really great dialogue, performed beautifully by a terrific cast. Great cinematography. And a really impressive musical score. This movie made me think of 'Phantom Thread' by Paul Thomas Anderson. Also, clearly some Sunset Boulevard references. Slow, mysterious, character driven, deliberate. Great on a rainy night, alone. Felt like a cool play.

Make no mistake PAINTER is a modern film ... but within this very colorful, modern film, director CORY WEXLER GRANT has blended elements of film noir and horror movies from the cinema's past which make PAINTER a highly engaging, extremely enjoyable hybrid of a film. PAINTER takes place within the flamboyant, esoteric world of art. Mr. Grant, with uncanny precision, has detailed the beauty, excitement, frivolity, self absorption, worship of the dollar, and the undercurrent of corruption that runs through the modern art gallery. In telling the story of Aldis Browne, a young painter on a bizarre journey from anonymity to celebrity, Mr. Grant introduces and examines themes such as: What is the passion that drives some individuals to create? Why is that passion so seductive? How is it that some artists capture the imagination of the public and others do not? What are the boundaries between artists and their aficionados? A truly gripping and provocative film, worthy of multiple viewings. I recommend it highly.

How do 8+ reviews amount to a 4.9 overall? It's hard to gauge whether to watch.