Ma vie avec Dalí

As noted in some other reviews, the film covers some aspects of Dali's life that are fascinating, in particular his complex relationship with Gala, his muse / lover / mother figure. The film also touches on the massive amounts of fraud occurring with Dali lithographs and prints, though it doesn't do much with this angle. So if you don't know the Dali story, this will be informational, at least about his later years. If you do know the Dali story, you will recognize the truth and have a richer experience.

While enjoyable, this film has a major structural problem. It focuses on a young person being brought into the world of Dali, and serving as our proxy as we learn about Dali, Gala and their struggles. This is a common storytelling tactic (used recently, for example, in both The Exception and Il Cattivo Poeta), but it's unnecessary and diverts attention from what we really came to see. No one will go this film for the young person's story, they will go for the Dali story.

You have seen this a million times before: young mangenue enters the magical world of X where things he couldn't have ever imagined change his vision of the world and inspire him to greatness. This time is a young beautiful boy from New York who gets to be part of Dali's world at the end of his career. And just like any young person he wants to feel special and part of something greater than himself, only to realize that it's all a facade behind which people are still regular old people.

The formula has been used again and again and again because it works, but you have to implement it in a way that captivates and inspires. You have to make art if you want to showcase art, even if it is a cheap copy of other great films in the genre you have to at least reach that level of competence. Unfortunately Daliland feels just as naive as the main character is supposed to be, wanting to be more than it is without effort and realizing no one thinks they're special. And funnily enough, the ending of the film does involve cheap knock-offs of Dali's work, which felt inadvertently hilarious.

Ben Kingsley is his usual good actor, without aspiring to greatness, Barbara Sukowa too, the rest of the cast are more props than anything else. And Christopher Briney is the perfect casting choice for the lead role: a pretty face. The sets are good, yet feel cheap all the same. The entire production feels a carbon copy of something better that you've seen before.

Bottom line: I don't recommend the film.

I had no idea what to expect on viewing this movie, but I was not at all disappointed.

It was fantastic and so very well filmed.

We see little of the genius at work, instead what we have is a peek into the mind of Dali, and his followers.

The film reminds me that some people have minds that simply work differently from yours and mine.

The great geniuses see the world differently than we do. In other eras I am sure some of these geniuses would be unrecognized and cast out as insane.

And it has occurred to me that many such persons die early.

There is a price to pay for fame and genius.

Anyway, the acting was terrific, I actually felt like I was back in the 70s again in some of the scenes.

And the filming is most beautiful.

All in all a great movie that should be enjoyed by all.

Greetings again from the darkness. Sure, it's an unusual approach; however, when it comes to Salvador Dali, the eccentric and iconic Spanish surrealist, a 'normal' introduction simply won't do. Director Mary Harron (I SHOT ANDY WARHOL 1996, AMERICAN PSYCHO 2000, THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE 2005) shrewdly opts for an opening scene of the artist appearing on the classic TV game show, "What's My Line?". Lead actor Ben Kingsley (Oscar winner for GANDHI, 1982) has been superimposed over the familiar archival footage as he mimics the artist's actual answers more than 60 years ago.

Screenwriter John Walsh (director Harron's husband) structures the story around James (newcomer Christopher Briney), a young man Dali selects as his new assistant ... and nicknames San Sebastian. This approach makes some sense as Dali was seemingly always on display and viewed as a curiosity to most. Yet James turns out to be the least interesting character on screen, and we wish for less of him and more of Dali, or Dali's wife Gala, or Dali's transgender nurse and muse Amanda Lear (Andreja Pejic), or even the flashbacks with Ezra Miller and Avital Lvova as young Dali and Gala.

It's 1974 and "Welcome to Daliland" is how James is first invited into the St. Regis Hotel suite where Dali spent winters in New York City for forty years. Production Designer Isona Rigau captures the essence of the hotel, especially during the infamous parties thrown by Dali ... even as Gala urged him to focus on work. Gala, played exceedingly well by Barbara Sukowa (HANNAH ARENDT, 2012), and Dali, show us the ups and downs of a codependent arrangement. She is shown pushing him towards success, and also at least partially responsible for his burnout and decline. Money was a constant battle as both enjoyed the high life. Dali loved the parties, while Gala enjoyed the company of younger men. The long-rumored signatures on blank canvas and the uncashed personal checks with the valuable signature are both addressed here.

Although it's been forty years since Sir Ben Kingsley won his Oscar, he still knows how to seize a character and fill the screen. Not only does he embrace the pumped-up ego of a genius, he also conveys the worst fear of an artist - a tremor in his painting hand ... although, to be fair, his fear of abandonment might have been even stronger. This is a man who knows he's approaching the end of his career and life, but chooses to live until he can't.

The flashbacks and the artsy moments where Dali conducts the wind from atop a seaside cliff are creative inserts worthy of one viewed as an icon, rather than as a man. Watching Dali hum while he works, or dominate a moment with his verbosity, or become emotional with Gala, all combine to provide a glimpse into Dali, the man and the artist.

In theaters and On Demand beginning June 9, 2023.

My Review - Daliland My Rating 7/10 Streaming on Foxtel

If I think of Salvador Dali I immediately think of the word bizarre and that's exactly how Oscar winner Ben Kingsley portrays the famous Spanish surrealist artist Dali.

This movie depicting Salvador Dali's final years with flashbacks to his youth when his younger self played by Ezra Miller meets his muse poet Gala who later in 1935 became his wife and greatest source of inspiration.

The movie begins in 1973 New York when a young handsome gallery assistant James Linton meets the famous 70 year old colourful eccentric artist Salvador Dali who refers to him from then on as Angel.

James Linton is played very effectively by Christopher Briney a fashionably charismatic slightly androgynous looking new actor who currently has a featured role as Aaron Samuels in the movie Mean Girls a teen musical.

The Dali's are both well past their prime but delight in giving extravagant parties attended by A list celebrities and the pop stars and models to be found at Studio 54 Gala played by Barbara Sukowa was apparently Salvador Dali's only sexual partner is described as having the "libido of an electric eel" Gala becomes infatuated with Jeff Fenholt played by Zachary Nachbar-Seckel whose fame is his role as Jesus on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar .

Dali invites Angel to assist him prepare for an important exhibition and they all return to Figueres in Spain which is Dali's birthplace.

This is the most interesting part of this movie as Dali revisits his youth when he first meets Gala and the relationships between the main characters develop.

I enjoyed seeing Rupert Graves again in Daliland playing Captain Moore who was Salvador Dali's business manager until he falls from grace .

I enjoyed Daliland directed by Mary Harron and written by John Walsh .

I must rewatch Little Ashes the 2008 movie starring Robert Pattinson as Dali which covers the young life of Salvador Dali .

I hope to visit the Salvador Dali museum this year in Figueres, Spain so these 2 movies greatly interested me .