Basquiat is a 1996 film directed by Julian Schnabel which is loosely based on the life of American postmodernist/neo expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Basquiat, born in Brooklyn, used his graffiti roots as a foundation to create collage-style paintings on canvas. His surroundings and lifestyle in New York City contributed and featured in his basic images, along with seemingly-unrelated words and phrases placed among the colours. His style was described as nervous, fierce and energetic.
As director, Schnabel is often found painting himself into the film by adding the fictional stand-in character, Albert Milo (Gary Oldman), based on Schnabel. Schnabel also leaves a bit more of himself in the film by adding cameo appearances by his own mother, father, and daughter (as Milo's family.) Schnabel himself is an extra as a waiter.
Basquiat died of a heroin overdose in 1988. Basquiat's estate would not grant permission for his work to be used in the film. Schnabel himself did the accurate reproductions of Basquiat's work that appeared in the film.
Jeffrey Wright portrays Basquiat, and David Bowie plays Basquiat's friend and mentor Andy Warhol. Additional cast include Gary Oldman as a thinly disguised Schnabel, Michael Wincott as the poet and art critic Rene Ricard, Dennis Hopper as Bruno Bischofberger, Claire Forlani, Courtney Love and Benicio del Toro in supporting roles as "composite characters" (del Toro's character, Benny, is partially based on Jaco Pastorius who was living on and off at the West 4th St. basketball courts in NYC at the time). Vincent Gallo, a friend and former band mate of Basquiat's also has a small cameo appearance.
The film was written by Schnabel while Lech J. Majewski and John F. Bowe each receives a story credit and Michael Thomas Holman receives a story development credit.
Basquiat tells the story of the meteoric rise of youthful artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Starting out as a street artist, living in Thompkins Square Park in a cardboard box, Jean-Michel is "discovered" by Andy Warhol's art world and becomes a star. But success has a high price, and Basquiat pays with friendship, love, and eventually, his life. Written by Martin Lewison
