John B
Was there Something in the Paint? A review of "Vincent and Theo" by Robert Altman
By: John Byrne
"Vincent and Theo" staring Tim Roth and Paul Rhys directed by Robert Altman is about the relationship between Vincent Van Gogh (Roth) and his brother Theo (Rhys). Watching this film with limited prior knowledge of Van Gogh I found it very enjoyable. While watching I had to remind myself more than once that Vincent is the one of the most well known and sold artists of the 19th century and this was done because the art business was the main storyline. The primary focus of the story was Vincent's relationship with his brother and his mental health struggles. Theo is the younger of the two brothers and takes care of his brother by running an art studio where he sells Vincent's work as well as other artists that he is fond of.
What I like most about this film I'm not sure if I can credit to Altman's well-deserved reputation for being an excellent director or the story itself. Vincent always leaves the audience wondering why he chose to say or do something. Sometimes the reasoning is a logical emotional response whereas other times its hard to say but you wonder if Vincent has consumed too much paint. Not only do these moments exist but you start to wonder what he will do next as you see him losing control. Going into the movie I hoped to learn a little bit of the artists life. A biographical drama that was based primarily off the letters Vincent wrote to his brother, I did learn a little about the mans life in such an entertaining movie that I then looked his works to see which ones I saw him painting or displayed in the movie.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to everyone, for some the ending will be seen as very dark and could bring up feelings about suicide. But if you enjoy productions where the humor can be subtle and dark, sometimes leaving one of the characters in an awkward predicament due to chaos, then you will enjoy this movie as much as I have. I would also recommend this movie to anyone wanting to know more about the artists life. From what I've seen it seems like a great entertaining biographical drama that can give people a place to begin their research of Vincent's life.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/28/23
Full Review
jiahua q
"Vincent and Theo" is a biographical film directed by Robert Altman and released in 1990. The film explores the complex and tumultuous relationship between the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo van Gogh. It tells the life course of Vincent and Theo, the complex and extraordinary brotherhood and the lasting and deep friendship between Vincent and Theo.
Theo and Van Gogh were both geniuses in different senses. Today, Theo should be a top curator and a discerning art hunter. He clearly understood the value of Van Gogh and his paintings. The Impressionists were not favored in the early days, so Theo held exhibitions for them and worked hard to leave space for their works in the gallery. This kind of decisiveness is also rare today. What moved me in "Vincent and Theo" was not only the persistence, enthusiasm, bravery, and nobility of the great artist, but also the tolerant and selfless understanding and love of the two brothers. The story telling is immersive, giving viewers a glimpse into the world of art and the challenges Vincent faced while trying to find his own artistic voice.
Tim Roth's performance as Vincent captures the tortured essence of the artist. His portrait of Vincent's inner passion and eccentricity is both powerful and poignant. Equally impressive is Paul Rhys as Theo, who demonstrates Theo's compassion and devotion to his younger brother.
The film evokes compassion for Vincent and admiration for Theo's unwavering support, making the film emotionally charged. It effectively depicts Vincent's life and makes the audience feel that the film is full of emotions.
The film "Vincent and Theo" integrates Vincent's work into the film's narrative story, allowing the audience to see how he translated his emotions onto the canvas. giving the audience a better understanding of his creative process.
The film is generally a realistic account of the facts of Vincent and Theo's lives. So, this is a very fascinating biographical drama that reflects the real daily life of the Van Gogh brothers. It provides a description of Vincent's art and the sacrifice shown by Theo for his brother's art. The performances of the two leading actors are outstanding. The film successfully attracted audiences and created a strong interest in the Vincent brothers.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
09/27/23
Full Review
Rachel B
Bold, but Rather Boring.
The 1990 film Vincent & Theo (1990), a biographical drama written by Julian Mitchell, produced by Ludi Boeken and David Conroy, and directed by Robert Altman, concentrates more on a combination of Van Gogh's struggles with mental illness and unusually intense relationship with his brother Theo, than his brilliant artistic abilities.
While reviews of Tim Roth's (Vincent) and Paul Rhys' (Theo) performance have remarked their performances as successful, with Variety Magazine noting Roth's performance in particular as "without a doubt, the best thing about this movie ...", I'd argue that Altman's distinct auterist style is the best thing about this movie. The constant shifting and spanning of the camera, and cluttered rooms in disarray seemed to symbolize Vincent and Theo's chaotic states of mind and Altman's use of parallel editing throughout the film highlights Vincent and Theo's intense and powerful connection. By alternating cuts from a series of uncanny synchronicities in what is happening in their lives at the same time, but in separate locations, he conveys them as being "twin-flames" in that they appear to be two people who share the same soul. We see this often, starting with the scene where they are both in different rooms with mirrors and paint, then when both women in their lives leave them after an argument, and again when they are both in front of a mirror again, painting their faces in different ways. Even Vincent's deteriorating mental health parallels Theo's deteriorating physical health, and while there was a slight gap between their deaths, the final depiction of their strong connection is symbolized by the image of their tombstones sitting side-by-side.
Altman's signature style may have made this film more tolerable, but it wasn't enough to make up for the story being rather uninspiring, and the acting quite dull. Thus, if I have the choice to re-watch this film, I'd prefer spending 2+ hours of my time viewing a more action-packed film.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
09/26/23
Full Review
Saif A
Vincent and Theo was released in 1990 from director Robert Altman. It is about the great Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo. They are played by Tim Roth and Paul Rhys respectively. It tells the story of how the great Vincent Van Gogh struggled to achieve greatness in his life and only achieved it after his death. It also tells the story of his brother who was a big believer in him and who tried his hardest to make him successful and famous. In the end, Vincent kills himself after struggling with his own mental illness and also struggling with his situation. He could not believe how he was not being successful.
The movie was too long. It was more than 2 hours. It was slow as a movie. It was disgusting at times especially with the main character and how he looks. It felt like the movie tried too hard to make the main character crazy or unrelatable. All I can say is that I did not like it. The camera work was also a bit unsettling. The zooming in and zooming out was distracting for me as a viewer. The performance of Tim Roth and Paul Rhys almost felt like it was forced. This is especially the case for Tim's performance. He wanted to scream and over-act in order to portray this character whom he did not totally understand. Van Gogh was a complicated character and Tim, I my view, just did not really know how to portray him. He overdid it and made the movie less believable. I have seen Tim in other movies and he is a great actor. This role just was not for him.
Overall, I would not recommend seeing this movie. I think it tried to overdo it and it struggled to create a really compelling story. It was not sure how exactly it wanted to portray the main character and ended up confusing me. Van Gogh was unlucky. He was poor and unknown until he died. Now, his paintings are worth millions. I guess some people are just unlucky. I would also say that for Tim Roth, this performance was also unlucky.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
09/29/23
Full Review
Yarianis R
Robert Altman's film "Vincent & Theo" offers a portrayal of the complex relationship between the artist Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo van Gogh. This film, written by Julian Mitchell and produced by Ludi Boeken, tells a story that is visually captivating and emotionally touching. With a great cast led by Tim Roth as Vincent and Paul Rhys as Theo. The film begins with a scene that immediately captures the viewer's attention—a passionate and heated argument between the two brothers. This intense opening sets the stage for the relationship that forms the core of the narrative. Vincent opposes the idea of attending art school and yearns to break free from the constraints of his family. His sole desire is to paint, and this passion is palpable from the outset as we witness him capturing the essence of others through his art. Early in the film, it becomes clear that there's a significant difference in the way the two brothers live their lives. Vincent's appearance is marked by poverty, a lack of personal hygiene, being very honest, and having a temper, while Theo is portrayed as a businessman who seeks to sell paintings and also Vincent's paintings to wealthy clients. One of the film's standout features is its use of background music. The soothing melodies and tension music effectively complement the scenes, enhancing the emotional impact and drawing viewers further into the story. The soundtrack becomes part of the film, resonating with the viewer's senses and intensifying the experience. I loved how some scenes just made sure to capture the essence of Vincent painting, like the sunflowers, and the acting is also magnificent because you can even sense his frustration. The camera work is remarkable, especially for the last scene, which even gave me goosebumps. So yes, "Vincent & Theo" is a cinematic masterpiece that offers a profound and touching glimpse into the lives of the van Gogh brothers.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
09/25/23
Full Review
Jackson G
A Starry Knight -
I have come to love Vincent & Theo, as someone with 4 brothers, some of whom struggle with mental health issues. The film, directed by Robert Altman and written by Julian Mitchell, is a biographical drama that dives into the turbulent relationship between the legendary post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo. This emotional movie is a compelling exploration of family ties and the devastating effects of mental illness. Vincent & Theo was released in 1990, written by Julian Mitchell, produced by Ludi Boeken, and Vincent, Theo, and Jo were portrayed by Tim Roth, Paul Thys, and Johanna Ter Steege respectively.
The narrative revolves around the lives of the Van Gogh brothers as they navigate the sobering realities of the late 19th-century art scene. The story's backbone is the tormenting nature of Vincent's mind and Theo's unwavering support of him. As Vincent struggles to find his artistic voice, his mental health worsens. As Vincent's mind begins to degrade, Theo finds himself managing both Vincent's emotional turmoil and the financial pressures of their shared existence. Jo Bonger, Theo's wife, eventually becomes a key player in preserving Vincent's legacy, and her role adds leagues of depth to the story.
What really makes the movie come alive is the exceptional period detail and the breathtaking cinematography. The film delicately places the viewer in the beautiful French countryside in the lively art scene of late 19th-century Paris. Tim Roth's portrayal of Vincent is nothing short of superb, as he was the perfect actor to capture Van Gogh's manic intensity. Paul Rhys as Theo is just as fantastic as he's able to show an exuberant amount of love, frustration, and compassion as he helps Vincent along in his heartbreaking journey. The film's score was composed by Gabriel Yared. Yared's work complements the emotions of the narrative and enhances the viewing experience. The script interweaves the brothers' personal struggles with their shared artistic passions, resulting in an exploration of creativity and madness that keeps you glued to the screen!
This being said, Vincent & Theo isn't without flaws. Some viewers may find the pace of the film quite slow, as it dives deeply into the complexities of familial relationships. Also, while the film's exploration of Vincent's mental health is powerful, some may say it doesn't do it justice as it oversimplifies his condition.
In conclusion, Vincent & Theo is a powerful biographical drama that offers a gritty portrait of a tormented soul. The performances by Tim Roth and Paul Rhys, matched with the film's cinematography and score make it a must-watch for Van Gogh enthusiasts everywhere. Despite the slow pace in some parts, Vincent & Theo remains a compelling and thought-provoking look into the Van Gogh brothers' bond and their contributions to the art world.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
09/25/23
Full Review
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