Local Color

R

Released Jul 3, 2009

1 hr. 39 min.

Drama

List

39%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1974, 18-year-old John (Trevor Morgan) discovers that once-famous landscape painter Nicholi Seroff (Armin Mueller-Stahl) lives in his small town in New York state. Though Nicholi is a recluse, John talks his way into the artist's house with a bottle of vodka. After Nicholi warms to the young man, he offers John a chance to spend the summer with him at his Pennsylvania country house, in exchange for doing the housework. John agrees, and once there he falls for neighbor Carla (Samantha Mathis).

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Watch Local Color with a subscription on Prime Video.

oldriverdiva

I liked it. True story

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/02/23

Full Review

john c

I was trying to find something worth watching and decided to give this movie 5 minutes. I expected something stupid. Instead, it pulled me in and hit every note for me. I assume it did not enjoy a lot of commercial success so I would like to think all the actors and screenwriters. Thank you. You truly moved my heart with this film. I don't care what the critics might have said. There is a lot of wisdom shared in this wonderful film. Thank you for making a movie like this.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I ironically mocks modern art and praises objective classical art and then fails on exactly that which makes classical art boring. It praise sentimentality and then plunges into repetitive patterns of shlock sentimentality. It pretends all modern art is just bullshit to make its point which is childish and uninformed, but defends itself by a call to the masses as if that justifies boring because lots of people still like boring. The sound is awful and the narration is mind numbing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

william k

Nicely told autobiographical tale of an artist and his pupil has good cinematography and an excellent cats, but showcases a rather reactionary concept of Art.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

camille l

Local Color est un coming-of-age movie dans le sens le plus classique du terme. Un gamin y devient adulte pendant un été au contact d'un type vaguement étrange et extrêmement charismatique. Cependant, Local Color a la chance d'être mis en scène par George Gallo et d'être interpété par Trevor Morgan et Armin Mueller-Stahl, qui sont absolument prodigieux dans leurs rôles. Aussi drôle que touchant, le film bénéficie aussi d'un rythme soutenu et de l'excellent Ron Perlman, absolument hilarant. Local Color est un bien bon film trop méconnu.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An amazing heartfelt autobiographical coming-of-age bio- drama written and directed by George Gallo, starring Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ray Liotta and Trevor Morgan in the lead role. It is based on a Gallo's experience when he was 18. The character of Nikolai Serov was based on George Cherepov, to whom Gallo had been an apprentice in the 1970s. Interesting part is that Gallo also painted all of the oil paintings in this movie, having "cleaned out his whole garage" of his paintings. In particular, the paintings that John (Trevor Morgan) showed to Serov (Armin Mueller-Stahl) when asking him for advice in the beginning of the movie were the exact paintings that Gallo as a teenager had showed Cherepov! The story of the young 18 year-old aspiring artist John Talia, Jr. (Trevor Morgan)- who is mostly misunderstood by his homophobic father (Ray Liotta) thinking that his son must be a homosexual because he enjoys drawing male nudes, was enlightening... real values against contemporary values of the 1974 New York! When John discovers that his idol, aging master, Nicoli Seroff (Armin Mueller-Stahl), lives nearby, he begs the old man to take him on as an apprentice. The invigorating young man has no idea that what he'll find is an embittered old alcoholic who has lost not only his enthusiasm for painting but for living. It is a movie which doesn't offer too much new, it is all very familiar and predictble but when we have an argument of old real values against contemporary questionable artworks, this doesn't count as a disadvantage. Cat Stevens songs are used to set the mood... and after that prepare yourself to see shades of the Karate Kid in Local Color, especially the mentoring-style of sensei Mr. Miyagi (who was also mourning the loss of his wife)! During the ensuing months, John is introduced to the intricacies of landscape painting by the troubled Seroff as well as the pleasures of romance with a beautiful neighbor (Samantha Mathis). Along the way, there are many passionate discussions about art, fueled by the presence of Seroff's argumentative art dealer friend (Ron Perlman). If you are an art lover, there is plenty to enjoy in this movie and beautifully photographed in widescreen to take full advantage of its gorgeously scenic Louisiana locations (substituting for Pennsylvania), the film is best appreciated on the big screen. In these suroundings it is impossible not to enjoy the sensitive performances by Morgan, Mueller-Stahl, and Diana Scarwid as John's empathetic mother.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

George Gallo

Director

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Nicolai Seroff

Trevor Morgan

John Talia Jr.

Ray Liotta

John Talia Sr.

Charles Durning

Yammi

Samantha Mathis

Carla

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

24%

57%

Fierce People

69%

64%

Aurora Borealis

76%

73%

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

TRAILER

for A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

46%

87%

Green Street Hooligans

91%

82%

Half Nelson

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Kriter-director George Gallo has given the stocky, ever-commanding Mueller-Stahl a heroic, bravura role and has been rewarded by the actor with a towering, complex portrayal that is surely among his finest.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 31, 2009

Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz

At the Movies

I suspect Local Color will lose those unfamiliar with the jargon and subtleties of the art world. Skip it.

Jul 6, 2009

Full Review

Ben Lyons

At the Movies

Obviously a passio project for Gallo but he is never really able to translate that importance to the audience. We never really care or connect with these characters.

Jul 6, 2009

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

While the film's story and acting are its most redeeming factors, the most peculiar element is its narration.

Rated: 6/10

Nov 26, 2020

Full Review

Annie Young Frisbie

Christianity Today

Despite the color that Mueller-Stahl and Morgan bring to their roles, Local Color remains as flat as a monochrome painting.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 3, 2018

Full Review

Daniel Saney

Digital Spy

Sporting truly wonderful performances, particularly from Mueller-Stahl, Local Colour is an enjoyable and moving experience.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2011

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In 1974, 18-year-old John (Trevor Morgan) discovers that once-famous landscape painter Nicholi Seroff (Armin Mueller-Stahl) lives in his small town in New York state. Though Nicholi is a recluse, John talks his way into the artist's house with a bottle of vodka. After Nicholi warms to the young man, he offers John a chance to spend the summer with him at his Pennsylvania country house, in exchange for doing the housework. John agrees, and once there he falls for neighbor Carla (Samantha Mathis).

Director: George Gallo
Executive Producer: Thomas Joseph Adams
Screenwriter: George Gallo
Distributor: Monterey Media
Production Co: Permut Presentations
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 6, 2015

Most Popular at Home Now