Overview
A deep dive into the tumultuous life of a groundbreaking artist, exploring the highs and lows of creativity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- intimate
- brooding
- quiet evening
- art-film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a confident, insightful, economical artist biography elevated by Ed Harris’s possessed central performance and Marcia Gay Harden’s supporting work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows Jackson Pollock's rise from struggling painter through artistic recognition and worsening alcoholism.
Pollock's studio practice and physical act of painting are central expressive subjects rather than incidental background.
Pollock's professional breakthrough is repeatedly placed against alcoholism, volatility, and damage to intimate relationships.
Lee Krasner is both Pollock's fellow artist and spouse, making their creative and domestic conflicts central to the drama.
Films like Pollock, and why
Basquiat
Actor-driven biographical drama about a volatile modern artist, artistic ambition, alcoholism, and a complicated romantic partnership.
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Intense artist biography centered on creative obsession, self-destruction, and the demands of artistic recognition.
Mr. Turner
Measured painter biopic emphasizing artistic process, intimate relationships, and the tension between private struggle and public acclaim.
Shine
Emotionally charged portrait of a troubled creative figure whose personal instability shapes both work and relationships.
Movie Details
- Director
- Ed Harris
- Release Date
- 2000-09-06
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (367)
Cast
- Ed Harris
- Marcia Gay Harden
- Tom Bower
- Jennifer Connelly
- Bud Cort
- John Heard
- Val Kilmer
- David Leary
- Robert Knott
- Stephanie Seymour
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pollock about?
- Ed Harris’s intimate portrait of Jackson Pollock traces the explosive rise of an abstract expressionist icon alongside the alcoholism and relationship turmoil that shadowed his success.
- What is Pollock like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pollock as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Pollock violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Pollock as mild.
- What did critics think of Pollock?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a confident, insightful, economical artist biography elevated by Ed Harris’s possessed central performance and Marcia Gay Harden’s supporting work.
- Which films are like Pollock?
- Films with a similar feel include Basquiat, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Mr. Turner, and Shine.
- How long is Pollock?
- Pollock runs 132 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pollock?
- In United States, Pollock streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
