It’s in the quieter, more character-based scenes that the film at least begins to penetrate Basquiat’s mystique, homing in on his vulnerability, sense of wonder, and how he sees the world around him.

There isn't a boring shot anywhere, and writer-director Schnabel is clearly enjoying himself as he plays with expressionist sound, neo-Eisensteinian edits, and all sorts of other filmic ideas.

Wright is brilliant.

[Basquiat] is most definitely a Julian Schnabel film and also a portrait of someone who may or may not be similar in character and manner to the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.