Artworks (2003)

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The flick has genuine entertainment value. At the same time, one can't take it too seriously as gaps in scenes and plot prevail. But, that's OK as this movie is generally enjoyable. I've loved Virginia Madsen for a long time and she looks her sexy best albeit with some obvious good plastic having picked up her somewhat bulging eye type. Her look now is just classy and pretty. There is no one sexier around. Madsen knows what she has and uses it perfectly in Artworks. I didn't find Rick Rossovich to be a good match with Virginia. Somehow he just doesn't do it like say Don Johnson did in another film done with Viginia Madsen. Net net however, the idea is very good and that's what works so well along of course with Madsen's acting and seething hot style. She has a knockout perfect figure, and has never looked better. She now fits into this movie like a glove. Artworks is simply one of those movies, despite it's many gaps, that just entertains, is not too long or too short and then leaves a lot of good ideas for the viewer's imagination. A nice idea but to be taken with a serious grain of pepper. Look out for this movie on cable or rent it. You'll enjoy for the duration of the picture and then most likely will forget it, save Virginia Madsen, of course.'

The premise of her entering this lifestyle after losing a baby is quite interesting to me, as I am well aware that grief can turn a person's life totally around, for better or worse. The fact that she shows remorse when she sees a photograph of her husband, but that remorse does not deter her from continuing is a touch that I find realistic. She's trying to fill the void in her life with thrill experiences, and that doesn't always mean sex scenes. I do think the husband gave up far too easily, however. By the way, I disagree with the other user, and I happen to appreciate Rossovich's looks. Sure, it could have been better written, but I think the acting levels are very good in this movie, and I would watch it again!

I "experienced" this movie in a theater in Cincinnati, OH. I was hoping to watch a cool Indie flick, but what I saw was an inane, Lifetime-like, movie with cuss words. The look of the film is pretty good, but that's where the good stuff ends and the bad begins...This movie is just horrible. The story and the characters make very little sense. Virginia Madsen and Daniel Von Bargen, two excellent character actors, are totally miss used in this movie. Firstly, I could care less about Madsen's character (the MAIN character), a poor little rich girl divorcée, and Von Bargen as her police chief father who totally lets her off the hook when he discovers that she's a thief, was completely unbelievable. I mean the police chief character doesn't even put up a fight. He literally gives her a dismissive "Oh, well, don't sweat it," type of line after he discovers her criminal ways. Oh, brother...You know the film is hitting the skids when the other people in the theater are groaning and saying out loud "what the hell does that mean?" during the showing...Looks great, but that's where it ends for this "piece of art." I see where this film has won awards...It makes me wonder what real value these film festivals have in the movie industry.

Jim Amatulli, the director of "Artworks" has created a film with a visual style that is appealing, as well as pleasing to the eye. The film, although flawed, will entertain thanks to Mr. Amatulli's eye for detail and the enormous appeal of all the principals in it.If you haven't seen the picture, please stop reading now.Virginia Madsen is an interesting actress to watch. Ms. Madsen hasn't had the success she deserves. She's a natural who makes all the characters she plays come to life. In here she's the tormented soul who loses a baby at the beginning of the film as well as her marriage to a man she has stopped loving.Emma Becker loves to paint. She also has an eye for finding neglected masterpieces in the homes of rich suburbanites where she goes to help set alarm systems. Her father is the chief of police. Emma is at a low point of her life when we meet her.Enter Brett, the gallery owner. He sees in Emma a possible partner for getting into the homes of the rich people and stealing some of their treasures. With the help of Corey, the gallery assistant, they have a sure set up.The problem with the screen play is that it has a lot of holes in it. We know how it will end. When Emma is confronted with the facts of the crime that points out to her, she doesn't fight back, but promise to cooperate and get the others involved, at the expense of losing the man she has come to love and has given her another lease on life.Virginia Madsen, as Emma, makes an excellent contribution to the film. Rick Rossovich, as Brett, brings a mixture of sex and mystery to his gallery owner. Both actors are seen in intimate ways that are done in perfect taste. We get the passion and the heat going on between them in a way that under another director would have seemed tacky and gross."Artworks", while predictable, shows a new talent who will probably go to do great work in the near future. This picture is richly textured with brilliant colors.