Not even bad in a good way

Dreadfully Boring

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

A bit of a disappointment after 'Secretary', but still certainly more than doable. This time it all felt more 'arty', leaving the drama in the shadows a little; at some point we get the idea that Diane is trapped between to worlds, but this dilemma carries on for way too long. Carter Burwell's soundtrack, the beautiful camera-work and sets and dresses, they all did add to a fulfilling experience, as did the cast. But I did see a photo of the real Diane Arbus though, and Kidman's (heavily face-lifted) appearance does not correspond. Samantha Morton was originally cast for this role, I don't know why that didn't work out, but she would have seemed much more appropriate. Other roles were mostly just fine (daughters) to very good (Ty Burrell), with Robert Downey Jr. excelling.But as said before, 'Fur:...' drags on too long without there being anything poignant put forth to the viewer. I mean, why shave the hero Lionel? I'm thinking that must have been some sort of demand by 'someone' to have Downey Jr. out in the flesh (and pretty much naked) to get a bigger audience, because dramatically, it felt truly unnecessary. And, as said before as well, Kidman just didn't really belong in this, even if I do think she did a fine job considering. And the true intimacy of it all díd come across more than once, so it's not hard for me to be lenient - but not too lenient:A big 6 out of 10 for another film by the exceptional Steven Shainberg. I'm looking forward to his debut ('Hit Me') and new work ('The Big Shoe' is in pre-prod.).

This is not a proper biography, as the title hints, but simply a fragment of what the real Diane Arbus did when she worked as a photographer. Diane lives as her husband's assistant, who is a photographer, and after she notices that her pipes are being plugged up with hair, she questions her neighbor, who at first doesn't show his face because he has hypertrichosis. After meeting with this mysterious neighbor, named Lionel, several times, among them meeting several other "freaks", Diane develops a strong personal relationship with Lionel. After Diane agrees to shave his body, the two make love. This is one of the most powerful, artistic and tender makings of love seen in cinema. After she loses Lionel, who happily dives into the sea after months of being on a respirator, Diane grieves and moves on to her next project, once again forming a personal relationship with a woman at a nudist colony before she photographs her.This film made me blissfully happy. It's filled with such passion, inner beauty, love and also sadness. Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr have the best chemistry on screen and you can see they really match well together. I just don't understand why no one saw this film or liked it, it really is a magnificent film and I definitely recommend it.

Director Steven Shainberg's "tribute" to eclectic photographer Diane Arbus, here seen as an unfulfilled 1958 housewife in Manhattan, an assistant to her commercial photographer husband desperate to carve out an identity for herself. Drawn to the grotesqueness of elements in daily life--the abnormal in the normal--Diane (pronounced Dee-Ann) becomes obsessed with a former carnival freak who has moved in upstairs. He's covered head-to-toe with hair, but Diane sees his soul and soon finds herself happily mingling with his circus friends, relationships which drive a wedge between Diane and her husband. Shainberg and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson have decided not to go the biography route, instead delving into the mindset of this stifled woman with a unique eye. Though visually sumptuous, stylish, and fascinating, the problem with the filmmakers' approach is that we never see Diane at work (her camera always seems to be resting some place). Diane the Beauty predictably falls in love with the Beast, and he asks her to shave him so they can make love. This portion of the movie (pure fantasy, of course) is quite touching, but overly familiar. Shainberg goes from aping David Lynch to aping Jean Cocteau! Meanwhile, Allan Arbus is busy developing Diane's photographs, the ones we never see her taking. It's a jumble, yet an intriguing one, beginning and ending with Diane's first visit to a nudist colony. Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr. give assured, courageous performances, and Ty Burrell as Mr. Arbus is outstanding (at one point growing a thick beard, possibly in envy). Not a success from a storytelling standpoint; belief must be suspended for the film to work at all--and it does work a little warped magic. **1/2 from ****

despite the fact that i ve never loved the biography -drama genre movies , but this one is done well , i loved it , loved the acting , the unusual script , the whispering plot and the directing i have the honor to be one of nicole kidman' s admirer , this stunning actress , really she love her work i assure of that after i saw that movie , a big star like her never think of that sort of film but a one like nicole who likes to be unique , star with the whole meaning of word , yes she dare to do that and she really succeeded , it will be added to her excellent history,SHE Succeeded TO act the character which has the , whispering , beauty calm , coldness , sensitiveness properties , she had to deserve an Oscar node in my opinion ,good job nicole