Review: Fur

You've got to admire filmmakers who takes chances. The new biopic Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus doesn't focus on real events in the life of the infamous photographer. Screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson and director Steven Shainberg reteam after the enormously successful and equally risky Secretary (2002) with a bold vision: create a fictional period in the life of a real figure. Biopics are often flat by-the-number affairs. Fur does not take the traditional path. So much for the praise.

But oh, what an irritating mess. Played by a distractingly tremulous and terribly miscast Nicole Kidman, Arbus becomes fascinated with a new mysterious neighbor (Robert Downey Jr.) who is entirely covered by hair. When the entire plot revolves around a laughable, imaginary central character, there's not much hope for the story. Academy Award winner Kidman is a marvelous actress, but her decision to play Arbus as a painfully shy, wavering waif diminishes her believability as an innovative artist. 1 star. [posted by Marcy]