If Disneyland is “the happiest place on Earth” then “Dalíland” is “the kookiest place on Earth” as evidenced in Mary Harron’s biopic featuring Ben Kingsley as Spanish surreal artist Salvador Dalí. The “I Shot Andy Warhol” and “American Psycho” director zeroes in on the 70s during the late stage of the artist’s life (Ezra Miller plays young Dalí in flashbacks). The St. Regis Hotel in New York becomes Avida Dollars’ studio and the setting for lavish parties with guests that included Alice Cooper and Jesus.
Think of Harron’s film as the art world version of “Almost Famous” as a young man named James (Christopher Briney) lands a low-level assistant job at the Dufresne Gallery, home to Salvador Dalí’s work. As the New York art gallery prepares for a new Dalí exhibition, they continue to flip the bill ($20,000 a month) for a suite at the St. Regis Hotel that is part home, working studio, and cabaret for the artist and his soulmate Gala (Barbara Sukowa). James is tasked with delivering a suitcase full of cash to the rockstar artist who is immediately bewitched by the 20-something’s beauty. Dalí insists that James become his personal assistant and suddenly the former art school dropout is surrounded by eccentric characters and celebrities, as he sinks down the rabbit hole getting a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s greatest artists.
Vibrant colors and lavish costumes make art director Caterina Vanzi and costume designer Hannah Edwards the production’s VIPs as they bring the 70s to life with pizazz. All of it was captured beautifully by cinematographer Marcel Zyskind. The film’s soundtrack features a diverse and sometimes unusual selection of tracks by artists Shirley & Company, The Spinners, Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel, and The Detroit Emeralds. The song “Beauty Queen” by Roxy Music is also featured in the film. It’s from the group’s second album “For Your Pleasure” which features singer-model and Salvador Dalí’s muse Amanda Lear on the cover. She’s played in the film by Andreja Pejic best known for “The Girl in the Spider’s Web.”
Lear was engaged to Bryan Ferry at the time of the album’s release, but the Roxy frontman doesn’t appear in Harron’s film, Alice Cooper does. At least actor Mark McKenna as Cooper, who is featured prominently in the party scenes. The “School’s Out” rocker was part of Dalí’s inner circle.
Ben Kingsley bears a striking resemblance to the surrealist artist as does Ezra Miller in the flashbacks, including a scene that shows how Dalí’ came up with his famous melting clocks painting “The Persistence of Memory.” His inspiration? A partially eaten wheel of melting brie cheese. The scene features Kingsley’s Dalí’ and his assistant James watching as Miller’s Dalí’ stares at the cheese and then looks up as he envisions the face of a clock distorting. It’s a lackluster moment that could have been a bit more monumental, plus we never see the finished painting.
German actress Barbara Sukowa delivers the film’s best performance as Dalí’s fiery and abusive wife Gala who was ten years his senior. Since Harron’s film takes place during the couple’s final years with Dalí’ in his 70s, that would put Gala in her 80s. Still, she’s a fireball with a penchant for younger men. James is warned to gently decline her advances, and he does, but no biggie she has a boy toy waiting in the wings, Jesus. Actually, his name is Jeff (Zachary Nachbar-Seckel) and he’s playing the Messiah in the Broadway version of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Gala becomes infatuated with the young singer and begins to pump lots of money into his career. Note: he can’t sing. Not sure how he got the Broadway gig, maybe it was divine intervention.
While Gala is seen as a sexual predator, Dalí’, who is surrounded by beautiful models, chooses to get his kicks as a voyeur, watching James in a threesome as he pleasures himself. Suki Waterhouse has a small role as Lucy, the model that Dalí’ nicknames Ginesta (which means “small wildflower”) who swoops in to corrupt James with sex and drugs.
How much of “Dalíland” written by John Walsh is based on truth? Who knows. For the most part, it’s entertaining and at times funny. But it suffers from cinematic cyclothymia. A scene that is at “11” on the “Spinal Tap” scale of 1-10 may be followed by a “2” which would then feel tedious. It’s also sad at times as we watch Dalí’ wither away, a loner who seemed to get pleasure by making sure that everyone else was having a good time including Gala, the love of his life. Kingsley and Sukowa are the reason why you should watch Mary Harron’s biopic, which as the title suggests, is like an amusement park. The kookiest place on Earth.
(3 stars)
Now showing at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth as part of their ongoing series Magnolia at the Modern
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