At Eternity's Gate may not be your typical biopic, but succeeds a delivering one of the most stunning and beautiful films of last year.
“Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate is a journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule, and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art. This is not a forensic biography, but rather scenes based on Vincent van Gogh’s (Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe) letters, common agreement about events in his life that present as facts, hearsay, and moments that are just plain invented.”
At Eternity’s Gate follows Vincent van Gogh during his time in south France, desperate to get away from the dreary city living and out into what he loves most: nature. The film doesn’t really follow a structured narrative in the traditional sense, and the synopsis on the back of the case perfectly sums up what you’ll experience while watching. Scenes in his life, hearsay, and of course the ones that are just plain invented. While this may take a bit to get used to for some viewers, the film quickly immerses you in a world of breathtakingly beautiful imagery and superb acting. You’ll quickly gain an appreciation and respect for Vincent van Gogh that you may not have otherwise had. Although some of these sequences are entirely fictional, for me, it sparked a curiosity about that man and his life. Through the film you learn some of his most debilitating qualities, including a type of madness in which he blacks out and wakes up not knowing who he is. He lives a tragic life, mostly in squalor, relying on his younger brother to send him money to live off of while he focuses everything he has on his painting. In this sense, you can’t consider this a biopic, obviously because of the fictional nature, but also because it focuses on only a small portion of his life, including the infamous time he cut off his ear and onward to his death.
Despite being 63 years old, when Vincent van Gogh was only 37 at the time of his death, Willem Dafoe is the perfect person to personify the troubled artist. His performance here reminds me a lot of his performance in The Last Temptation of Christ. These characters are passionate, connected to the world in a spiritual way, while trying to get everyone to see the same beauty that he sees, whether it be in people or in nature. Willem Dafoe gives an absolutely mesmerizing performance and is able to embody all these characteristics perfectly; the passionate artist who sees perfection every time he looks at a landscape, as well as a deeply troubled man in poor health who drinks heavily, a social outcast, with severe mental health issues. The supporting cast offers moments of normalcy in the film, giving the audience some sequences with dialogue with Vincent. These sequences are short in duration, but the performances each offer compliment Willem Dafoe’s nicely, especially Rupert Friend, Oscar Isaac, and Mads Mikkelsen.
At Eternity’s Gate is a stunningly beautiful film in so many ways, shining a light on a troubled artist, ahead of his time who was only appreciated after his death. Although it doesn’t follow a normal narrative structure, the beauty of it will inspire those who are able to appreciate everything the film seeks to provide for the audience. The liberties taken in the film concerning the controversy surrounding his death and the found journal sketches are also fascinating, sparking that curiosity to continue learning about Vincent van Gogh well after the film ends, the mark of a truly great film.
Video
At Eternity’s Gate is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.40:1. Being an art film about Vincent van Gogh, the film tries to capture the beauty that van Gogh displayed in his own work. Different filters to highlight certain colors, with brilliant blue and yellow tones in some sequences. Director Julian Schnabel succeeds at letting the audience view the world the way Vincent van Gogh did, providing some of the most breathtakingly wonderful visuals, accentuating color in every way, with every shot masterfully done. This is by all means a visual film more than anything, and you’ll experience every nuance with this wonderful transfer.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS=HD Master Audio 5.1. The track sounds great, with most of the sound you’ll be hearing coming in the form of dialogue. Levels are good and well balanced throughout the surrounds and center channel. Composer Tatiana Lisovkaia has created the most beautiful score to accompany the visuals in the film, and the combination of both sparks a sense of awe and enjoyment.
Special Features
Although there are a few featurettes included on the disc, these are sadly only minutes long a piece. With such a magnificent performance and beautiful film, I wanted more.
- Made by a Painter
- Channeling Van Gogh
- Vision of Van Gogh
- Audio Commentary with Director Julian Schnabel and Cowriter and Coeditor Louise Kugelberg
- Theatrical Trailer
One of the most beautiful films I’ve seen in a long time, both visually, musically and acted. At Eternity’s Gate may not portray the historical biopic that many might think going into this, but it gives us a stunning look at the artist in a way that’s not been done before.
