The portrayal of the central character, by showing non-verbal aspects of his life, like the intensity of his focus when engaged in creative works, or his silent, brooding intensity when confronting the naked racism that patronizing, rich connoisseurs often showed towards his works, helps the viewer better understand the torment that fueled the genius. To know, for example, the fact that Basquiat had a three-hundred dollar a week cocaine habit means little, it does not tell us why he continued to use drugs and still had the drive to create art. Although the film portrays the full Warhol milieu, as it was such an integral part of Basquiat's discovery, and provided the environment where his works were created and received, it does not glamorize New York during the 'Studio 54' years. It also does not glamorize drug use, as it stresses that Andy Warhol hoped that Basquiat would get off...
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