It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Jackson Pollack was an early, but very influential American artist of the 1950s. Based on a Novel written by Steven Naifeh the film is now directed by Actor/director Ed Harris. Audiences across the world can now enjoy this semi-biographical movie dealing with the impressionist artist. Taken from the last segment of his life, viewers observe how Pollack begins with one direction of Impressnism and developed a personal style of his own. Ed Harris is not only impressive as the real-life artist, but as director, he also imbues his troubled character with a personal passion for art, something the real Pollack often exhibited. The movie does stagnate with the constant barrage of intrusive friends and family members. However they are also the same influences which criticized, encouraged and guided his work. The acting is superb with stand-out performances by Ed Harris, Marcia Harden, John Heard, Val Kilmer and Jeffrey Tambor as Clem Greenberg. For audience members this is a wonderful film and I would easily recommend it to all. ****

I always try to catch this film when it's on TV, but I always stop watching before its terrible ending. Jackson Pollock was a great artist, thanks in no small part to his shrewd wife, Lee Krasner. She was the intermediary between this disturbed and ultimately psychotic man and the sophisticated New York art world that never knew quite what to make of him. Compared to today, the postwar New York art scene looks quaintly innocent. All it took was some pontificating by Clement Greenberg and a spread in Life magazine to make Pollock's career. Ed Harris plays Pollock well, and the scenes where he actually paints are fascinating. The film also does a does a good job of showing how artists actually lived in fifties in New York. By today's standards, it was a grubby life in dilapidated walk-ups painted in the harsh, cheap white paint favored by cheap landlords. But it was possible to be poor and still live in Manhattan. In a way, Krasner did her job too well. Pollock was emotionally unprepared for his fame and it sent him (and ultimately poor, innocent Edith Metzger who had the bad luck to be in his car at the wrong time) over the deep end. Pollock is an honest movie that is obviously a labor of love on the part of director Harris and the actors whose performances are excellent.

A biopic on American Painter, Jackson Pollock. 'Pollock' is a terrible letdown, because the late-icon himself was one disappointed man. As a cinematic experience, this one's a major letdown! Ed Harris stars as Pollock, whose entire life comes across as depressing. Harris, the actor, is in form. But Harris, the filmmaker chooses the wrong subject. Cinema is a different medium altogether. We watch movies to get entertained. And biopics, mostly, have been hugely engaging experiences. But this biopic, is simply bland! Ed Harris's direction is dull. Can't blame him, cause his biopic is upon a dull person. The Cinematography doesn't strike either. In the acting department, Harris lives his part and becomes the late icon. But the show belongs to Marcia Gay Harden, who delivers a knock-out performance as Pollock's wife. She is the life of the show! Jennifer Connelly, in a brief role, looks stunning! Val Kilmer makes an appearance.On the whole, 'Pollock' doesn't work as a cinematic experience. Thumbs Down!

After revisiting this film 10 years post release, I have to ask myself the following question. Why did the Academy chose Russell Crowe's performance for Best Actor over Ed Harris' portrayal of Jackson Pollock? Mr. Harris perfectly laid bare the tortured soul of Pollock for all to see. Rarely does an actor so seamlessly, and convincingly, exhibit the range of emotions shown in this performance.Equally impressive was Mr. Harris' directorial debut. The story flowed coherently, something that can be said less and less often about films these days, holding the viewer's interest as the characters develop. Performances across the board were first rate and believable.I say, check it out!