Do you like conspiracies, theft, political scandals, and treachery? Then you need to check out the movie The Art of the Steal, a documentary with all the aforementioned nouns packed into one interesting art ride. Don’t ride this movie off immediately since it’s about paintings because I thought I would hate it and ended up really enjoying the movie and increasing my dislike of Philadelphia. My hateful disposition is a result of being born a Mets and Islanders fan, but that’s neither here nor there. Check out my review of the terrific documentary, The Art of the Steal, after the jump.
The movie, directed by Don Argott (Rock School), chronicles the “the long and dramatic struggle for control of the Barnes Foundation, a private collection of art valued at more than $25 billion.”
In 1922, Dr. Albert C. Barnes formed a remarkable educational institution around his priceless collection of art, located just five miles outside of Philadelphia. Now, more than 50 years after Barnes’ death, a powerful group of moneyed interests have gone to court for control of the art, and intend to bring it to a new museum in Philadelphia. Standing in their way is a group of Barnes’ former students (Friend’s of the Barnes) and his will, which contains strict instructions stating the Foundation should always be an educational institution, and that the paintings may never be removed. Will they succeed, or will a man’s will be broken and one of America’s greatest cultural monuments be destroyed?
My initial reaction to this movie was that of surprise because I’m not one to go to museums often only to walk around and stare at pictures made by artists I probably don’t know. This movie offered a whole new perspective into the world of art, tourism, politics and greed. It derives its power from the legacy of Albert Barnes and how he struggled to protect and preserve the art he had collected over his life and how he wanted to use it for educational purposes, not as a social background. It was his ability to battle both the elite upper class and the Philadelphia political system that makes him such an intriguing person and this tale very fascinating. After he dies it becomes a battle between the wealthy “intellectual scum” of Philly and the people who actually care about the foundation, The Friends of the Barnes.
The Art of the Steal is a social commentary on how people’s lives and legacies can be destroyed over a short course of time due to politics, greed, and the need for power. When you watch this film and listen to some of the commentary by many of the parties involved, it is clear the foundations on which law in this country was founded on have been completely destroyed for personal gains. Don Argott does a great job weaving in the different perspectives of parties on both sides of the table and then clearly explaining how a once great foundation of cultural leanings can be quickly transformed into a political madhouse. Argott’s story telling abilities really shine in this documentary simply for the fact that he is able to captivate those who find art to be boring and a waste of time.
This film does a great job in making me hate the city of Philadelphia as well as its political and judicial systems. If you are an individual with principles then you will find this movie educational, inspiring and saddening simply because you don’t have to be an art lover to understand the intricate web of deception and degradation that occurred slowly after Barnes’ death. Although slow at points, this documentary is able to paint us a picture of the Philadelphia political system, its relationship to the arts, and the inability for people to understand the big picture when it comes to preserving both a legacy and artistic history.
Rating: A captivating story of a legal art heist that will intrigue even those who despise the arts.
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