FilmSnobReviews

Title: Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Sara Driver
Starring: Alexis Adler, Fab 5 Freddy, Patricia Field
Runtime: 1 hr 18 mins

What It Is: A documentary looking at the early teenage years of now-famed street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Through the eyes of 1970’s New York and it’s growing art culture we see the people and places that started a movement. A movement of sound and color. One of art and music. A time when New York was at it’s most violent and gross and in need of a kick in the pants.

What We Think: I loved the perspective this film took. It tells stories of people that knew the man known as SAMO. What I very much enjoyed was the stories being told and how they not only shed light on a very interesting man but also the city that made him and the culture that it fostered. All the interviews are interesting and well done and that’s really the best you can hope for in a documentary. Additionally, everything comes off as authentic there’s a reality to it all. New York never looked so cool at it’s absolute worst.

Our Grade: B+, Looking at the seismic shift in the art and music scenes of New York was so damned interesting. Whenever this inevitably ends up on a streaming service you should certainly check it out. I HIGHLY recommend it. Not only will you get a great trip through late 1970’s New York but the music is great all the personalities are fantastic and overall Driver is excellent in her direction. This is a sharp doc that knows what it wants to say says it and get itself over with. At only 78 minutes it’s a good quick watch sure to please all the doc junkies out there.