Beauty #2
d. Andy Warhol, 1965
What better way to start off the new year than with a previously unseen Warhol? Part of me believes that if ever there was a film that defied criticism, this is it. Beauty #2 is what it is, and whether you love it or hate depends on if you find the idea of a static shot that seems to last for 66 minutes fascinating. If you're the kind of person that can sit through films like Jeanne Dielman, Warhol's own magnum opus Chelsea Girls, or even a Tarr--as I myself am--then you should find plenty to like here. If you, however, like most of the world require heavy plot and characters to be satisfied by a film, then keep away. Edie Sedgwick has more to do there than she did in Vinyl, and it pays off, as she is reason enough to sit through this film. In the end, Beauty #2 is kind of a struggle (even for a Warhol fan), but it's never less than fascinating.
