Downey Jr. and Kidman in Fur - WEIRD BUT WORTH IT
October 2nd 2008 02:29
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006) is a bizarre film – but not without its merits.
It tells the story, albeit imaginary- as the title suggests, of praised American photographer Dianne Arbur (played by an uninspired Nicole Kidman) who abandons her family in favor of a career. Set in the painstaking perfect (and rather ordinary depiction) of 1950s New York.
Diane’s marriage starts to crumple after she develops a bizarre relationship with a neighbor suffering from hypertrichosis (werewolf-syndrome), Lionel (played by the brilliant Robert Downey, Jr.) whom she becomes obsessed with taking a portrait of, and predictably falls in love with. Notable performances include Ty Burrell (who plays husband Allan Arbus), a man wracked between conventional love for his wife and the inability to allow his wife the freedom to explore the strange existence of Lionel's netherworld; a mix of freaks and geeks; transvestites, conjoined twins and dwarfs.
Directed by visionary, indie flickster, Steven Shainberg (of Secretary fame), and inspired by a biography of Arbus by Patricia Bosworth, the film captures the essence of the photographer’s surreal and disturbing approach to the art form. The Art Direction is amazing and effictively transports the viewer into an eclectic and colourful world of Lionel’s – which plays stark contrast to the conventional smooth clean lines of Dianne’s existence.
We are drawn in from the moment Diane discovers a mass of hair clogging her drain and mysterious key, leading her upstairs to Lionel who has been “waiting for a real freak”. Dianne starts to unravel as women with an incessant need to break free of routine and convention and explore her inner “freak”.
Downey Jr. needs to be HIGHLY commended for not only enduring, as one would imagine, hours in make-up for the application of undoubtedly itchy fur ALL over his body, but a disturbing believable and oppressive portrayal of a man trapped behind the curse of his disease. What’s so intriguing about this performance is Downey’s unflagging ability to communicate his character's journey through his eyes. The film is worth seeing, if just for Downey’s performance alone.
Interestingly enough is the opening sequence of the film where Diane arrives at a nudist colony and asked to strip, but she is draped in an eerie human fur coat (we later learn that she was clothed by Lionel, in a more ways than one). Adding to this is Diane’s ‘stripping’ of Lionel’s masses of hair – a surprisingly intimate and titillating sequence. The subtlety of Diane’s metamorphis from conventional housewife is not limited to the physical. It’s a wanting performance, somewhat underexplored and predictable, but completely watchable nonetheless.
While Fur may not be everyone’s piece of cake, it’s well worth the journey if you’re looking for an alternative to the mainstream Hollywood fare.
It tells the story, albeit imaginary- as the title suggests, of praised American photographer Dianne Arbur (played by an uninspired Nicole Kidman) who abandons her family in favor of a career. Set in the painstaking perfect (and rather ordinary depiction) of 1950s New York.
We are drawn in from the moment Diane discovers a mass of hair clogging her drain and mysterious key, leading her upstairs to Lionel who has been “waiting for a real freak”. Dianne starts to unravel as women with an incessant need to break free of routine and convention and explore her inner “freak”.
Downey Jr. needs to be HIGHLY commended for not only enduring, as one would imagine, hours in make-up for the application of undoubtedly itchy fur ALL over his body, but a disturbing believable and oppressive portrayal of a man trapped behind the curse of his disease. What’s so intriguing about this performance is Downey’s unflagging ability to communicate his character's journey through his eyes. The film is worth seeing, if just for Downey’s performance alone.
Robert Downey Jr. in Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006)
Interestingly enough is the opening sequence of the film where Diane arrives at a nudist colony and asked to strip, but she is draped in an eerie human fur coat (we later learn that she was clothed by Lionel, in a more ways than one). Adding to this is Diane’s ‘stripping’ of Lionel’s masses of hair – a surprisingly intimate and titillating sequence. The subtlety of Diane’s metamorphis from conventional housewife is not limited to the physical. It’s a wanting performance, somewhat underexplored and predictable, but completely watchable nonetheless.
While Fur may not be everyone’s piece of cake, it’s well worth the journey if you’re looking for an alternative to the mainstream Hollywood fare.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I'm a huge fan of Shainberg's Secretary, a brilliant film for the most part.
Comment by Raquelle
cheers, R