“Mapplethorpe: The Director’s Cut” portrays a nuanced portrait of an artist at the height of his craft, along with the self-destructive impulses that threatened to undermine everything he prized.
The original “Mapplethorpe” was released in 2018. This version, “The Director’s Cut” will be released to audiences via streaming on Friday, April 2nd. As in every marketed “Director’s Cut,” there is the opportunity to insert scenes not included in the original film, as well as restored scenes, in this case, of Mapplethorpe’s childhood love of photography. Thus, we are able to see scenes deleted originally due to concern over rating, or length, or any of a number of reasons the production company chose to market the original version with more editing than the director had completed in her cut of the film.
Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe was one of the most controversial photographic artists during his rise to fame in the ’70s and until his death at 42 from AIDS. “The Director’s Cut” becomes, in and of itself, an “art film” aimed at a niche audience rather than a mass-market audience. Mapplethorpe is depicted as the evolving artist, beginning with his father introducing him to hobby photography as a child. Then, through his developing eye for beauty, discovered uninhibited subjects and in unusual ways. During his life, he photographed celebrities, still life, and self-portraits. It was his use of naked bodies, both male and female, and his documentation of the BDSM culture in New York City that incited cries of pornography and his exhibits sparked arguments regarding the Constitutional freedom allowing such works to be exhibited.
“Mapplethorpe: The Director’s Cut” humanizes the artist and does its best to explain and highlight the beauty in what is not pornography or any attempt as such. Pornography’s purpose is to excite and incite; Mapplethorpe’s photos highlight, emphasize and delineate that which is beautiful as his eyes discovered it. Matt Smith is himself beautiful as the artist and he incorporates the development of the mature artist, from his liaison with Patti Smith and later with Sam Wagstaff and the accompanying maturation of his art as he perfects his focus. John Benjamin Hickey’s portrayal of Mapplethorpe’s supporter and companion is truly poignant when he is later betrayed by Mapplethorpe the incurable narcissist. That narcissism is the artist. It pervades his art and it creates the beauty of his work.
This film is interesting and thought-provoking. I well recall the national uproar over the labeling of his work as pornographic. Not having seen the original version, I thought this one complete in itself. Well done, but appealing to what would seem to be a very small audience. However, I would have to say that occasionally or even oftentimes, director’s cuts develop that “niche” into a hugely successful run with an accompanying fan following. Perhaps that will be the case with this director’s cut as well.
Available on Digital Platforms Friday, April 2nd
