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Pollock (2000)

By Justin Stoeckel · August 4, 2011

Screenplay Genre: Drama / Biography 

Movie Time: 122 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

Lee (Marica Gay Harden) bumps into Jackson Pollock's (Ed Harris) friend Reuban (Matthew Sussman) and Howard Putzel (Bud Cort) who works for Peggy Guggenheim. Howard, being impressed with Pollock's work, introduces him to Peggy Guggenheim (Amy Madigan) at her Art of the Century Gallery. (00:19:57)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

Peggy Guggenheim awards Pollock his first one-man show at her Art of the Century Gallery, as well as a commission to paint a mural for the entrance hall of her townhouse. After struggling for months for inspiration, Pollock finds his vision for the mural. (00:33:00)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

Pollock, having been unable to gain critical interest or earn a show since Peggy's first exhibition, discovers his signature drip and splatter style painting. (1:06:20)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

Following a Life magazine article and a thrust into the public and critical spotlight, a documentary filmmaker (Norbert Weisser) selects Pollock for his study. Pollock's interest turns septic, feeling that the filmmaker and the buzz has made his painting mechanical and formulaic, far removed from his intuitive and exoteric style. He returns to hard drinking after two years and flips the Thanksgiving dinner on the floor. (1:32:37)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

Unable to return from his depression, Pollock falls into a drunken lull and takes up with a girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly) that causes Lee to finally leave him on his own after a life of caretaking. (1:44:25)