Love Is the Devil Movie Review 1998

British painter Francis Bacon (Jacobi), at the height of his career, takes on petty thief George Dyer (Craig) as his model, lover, and whipping-post. Bacon exposes his dim lover to a world of high-brow drunks and addicts who entertain themselves by humiliating others, with Bacon viciously leading the verbal and emotional attacks. Although the estate refused director/writer Maybury permission to use Bacon's actual paintings, he captures the painful emotions expressed in the art in different ways. The incredible lead performances by Jacobi and Craig are as brilliant but ferocious as the artist himself. While at times tender and moving, their destructive relationship is difficult to watch, but worth it you do. Appeal is definitely art-house niche, but those who see it will be rewarded.

Distribution

Strand Releasing, 1460 4th St., Ste. 302, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Phone: (310)395-5002, Fax: (310)395-2502, Email: strand@strandrel.com, URL: http://www.strandreleasing.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 90 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Art & Artists, Gays, Biopics: Artists, London, Sexcapades

Screenplay

John Maybury

Cast

Derek Jacobi, Daniel Craig, Tilda Swinton, Karl Johnson, Anne Lambton

Cinematography

John Mathieson

Director

John Maybury

Music

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Producer

Ben Gibson, Patrice Haddad, Takashi Asai, BBC Films, British Film Institute, Strand Releasing