New York Beat Movie (Downtown 81) (2000)

71% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(1,763 ratings)

Originally shot in 1980-81, this film, directed by Edo Bertoglio, is a rare real-life snapshot of ultra-hip subculture of post-punk era Manhattan. Starring renowned artist Jean Michel Basquiat (who died in 1988 at age 27) and featuring such early Village hipsters as Melle Mel, John Lurie, and Lydia… More Originally shot in 1980-81, this film, directed by Edo Bertoglio, is a rare real-life snapshot of ultra-hip subculture of post-punk era Manhattan. Starring renowned artist Jean Michel Basquiat (who died in 1988 at age 27) and featuring such early Village hipsters as Melle Mel, John Lurie, and Lydia Lunch, the film is a bizarre elliptical urban fairytale. The film opens with Jean (Basquiat) in the hospital with an undisclosed ailment. After checking out, he happens upon an enigmatic woman, Beatrice (Anna Schroeder), who drives around in a convertible. He arrives at his apartment only to discover that his landlord is evicting him. Later, while trying to sell his art work, he meets up with musician Arto Lindsay and his band DNA. Jean eventually does manage to sell some of his art work to a rich middle-aged woman who is interested in more than just his art, but she pays with a check. As the film progresses, he wanders the streets of New York, looking for Beatrice. He happens upon a bag lady (Debbie Harry) who turns into a princess when he kisses her. As a reward, she gives him a stack of cash. Abandoned in the mid-'80s due to financial problems, producer Maripol Fauque rediscovered the film and cleaned it up in 1999. It was screened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 11 min.
Directed By: Edo Bertoglio
Written By: Glenn O'Brien
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 13, 2001 Limited
On DVD: Aug 27, 2002
Studio: Zeitgeist

Critic Reviews

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
A fascinating if fragmented, dreamlike look at the downtown art-music-fashion scene of a yeasty, creative era.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
A crudely poetic inventory of the people and places about to rock pop culture.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Performances by DNA and the Plastics alone are worth the price of admission.
John Petrakis, Chicago Tribune
Gives us a glimpse of the city as it was, suggesting that there was something revolutionary, even inspiring, about those days of not-so yore.
Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz
It captures the youthful excitement of a burgeoning creative movement.
Dave Kehr, New York Times
It's as a documentary that Downtown 81 is most successful.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Invaluable because it catches the sights, sounds and moods of a city that are of a bygone era.
Gil Jawetz, DVDTalk.com
Basquiat really holds the screen with his understated presence and great music and unique personalities really help overcome whatever "smallness" the story might exhibit.
Wilson Morales, BlackFilm.com
It's not a great film, but rather disjointed as nothing really makes sense. But considering this is the only glimpse one would ever see of Basquiat before he was discovered by Andy Warhol, this film is somewhat of a masterpiece.
Dave White, IFilm
It's like being present for the opening of a time capsule.
David Ehrenstein, New Times
Director Edo Bertoglio and writer-producer Glenn O'Brien gave [Basquiat] little to do but walk around and look pretty.
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
a sweet, harmless vision that never quite overcomes the lack of story...
, BBC
A film of considerable pleasure, not least the archival footage and evocation of a city and individuals fair brimming with life.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
A paean to funky neighborhoods before gentrification and gritty, neon-flecked streets before SUVs.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
As a piece of cinematic art, this meandering, shambolic film isn't much to speak of, but as a time capsule, it's priceless.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Edward S

"Downtown 81" wants to be transcendent and wants to the cognoscenti on art and culture. I'm not sure if it achieves just that (it probably doesn't,) but it does manage to capture the small pockets of culture in Manhattan that revolves around music, visual arts,… More
"Downtown 81" wants to be transcendent and wants to the cognoscenti on art and culture. I'm not sure if it achieves just that (it probably doesn't,) but it does manage to capture the small pockets of culture in Manhattan that revolves around music, visual arts, fashion, etc. If anything the film is a fascinating time capsule that looks like a documentary and has the ultra-left ideas and attitudes of the people in the place imbedded in the screenplay. As the film progresses it gets more and more avant-garde, and like the hip drugged youth in the film whose ambitions only go as far as their ecstacy/ketamine/THC-suppressed drive for change, the film also feels as if it nearly loses sight of its original ambition and scope, especially in the 2nd and 3rd act. The film embraces its disjointedness and converts itself into, what might as well be, a compilation of electrifying, kinetic music videos. But, at the same time it is an impeccable showcase of the area's culture and the people whom it belongs to. Other than the premise, which is still somewhat interesting, most notably with the charming ending, some choices in editing and camera angles are questionable. At best the film, which is really just an embodiment of one idea after the other, is moderately interesting. Perhaps amusing or a pleasant distraction.