Geek Spasm: The Art of Film

I confess I don’t know much more about art than the average Joe.

I recognize the greats, know the important historical trivial tidbits and have some perspective, but everything I’ve ever learned about the subject I likely learned at the movies.

Here is an exhibit of indelible paintings featured in some of my favorite films.

Just for shits and giggles, see If you can you guess the film from the painting.

1.  A lonely and troubled teen stares upon “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat, focusing in on the eyes of his young pointillistic counterpart.

2.  A double-sided piece by Wasilly Kandinsky, “Several Circles” and “Black Lines, ” representing chaos and control. A charming, well-rehearsed hustler impresses a Manhattan power couple by admiring it.

3. Portrait of the Duke of Wellington by Francisco de Goya. Famously stolen in 1961. Before it was eventually recovered in 1965, it popped up onscreen in the underground lair of a megalomaniacal villain.

4.  While not the specific focus of this nimble gallery heist caper, “The Son of Man” by René Magritte serves as the inspiration for its clever hide-and-seek climax.

5.  “Vagina.” by Maude Lebowski. Flung together violently, Pollack style, while strapped into a harness, yanked along a zip line. 

(Granted, some of these clues are a bit more obvious than others.)

6.  “East/West/Whaddaya Want From Me?” by Mrs. DeVito. 

’Nuf said.

Answers after the jump!

1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
2. Six Degrees of Separation
3. Dr. No
4. The Thomas Crown Affair
5. The Big Lebowski
6. GoodFellas