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Downtown 81

Play trailer Poster for Downtown 81 2001,  1h 11m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 79% 29 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
79% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
"Downtown 81" is a feature film starring the legendary American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). Basquiat was a 19-year-old painter, graffiti artist, poet and musician when he played the lead in this film, which vividly depicts the explosive downtown New York art and music scene of 1980-81.

Critics Reviews

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Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Dec 5, 2019
Its bygone-ness still abuzz with creativity and movement, "Downtown 81" is a celluloid scrapbook that we can all be thankful for in helping capture the rumble before takeoff. Go to Full Review
John DeFore The Hollywood Reporter Oct 25, 2019
For anyone steeped in or curious about the often uncategorizable music made during this period, Downtown 81 is a joyous artifact. Go to Full Review
Michael Joshua Rowin Slant Magazine Oct 21, 2019
3/4
This time capsule of bohemian New York distorts its representation of the city for reasons more loving than lazy. Go to Full Review
Bedatri D. Choudhury Hyperallergic Mar 2, 2020
It's perhaps not a magical portal but an always-open, inviting one that promises a journey to a lost city of artists and roadside fairies where Basquiat sits on a chair, drawing on Man Ray portraits with a Sharpie. Go to Full Review
Lorry Kikta Film Threat Dec 7, 2019
7/10
As a music fan, particularly a fan of punk and post-punk, Downtown 81 is essential viewing... Go to Full Review
Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel Oct 30, 2019
3.5/5
An intermittently electric movie that plays like a hybrid concert documentary, genre parody and art film fairy tale. Go to Full Review
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Downtown 81

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Edo Bertoglio

Director

Jean Michel Basquiat

Self

Anna Schroeder

The Love Interest

Giorgio Giomelsky

The Landlord

Marshall Chess

The Thief

Danny Rosen

Danny

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Downtown 81

Downtown 81 (1981) Downtown 81 (2000) Downtown 81 (2000) JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT. JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT. JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT. KID CREOLE AND THE COCONUTS. JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT AND DEBORAH HARRY. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis "Downtown 81" is a feature film starring the legendary American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). Basquiat was a 19-year-old painter, graffiti artist, poet and musician when he played the lead in this film, which vividly depicts the explosive downtown New York art and music scene of 1980-81.
Director
Edo Bertoglio
Producer
Maripol
Screenwriter
Glenn O'Brien
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Production Co
Miramax
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 13, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.0K
Runtime
1h 11m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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