The Art of the Steal takes a somewhat unheard-of story and carefully and skillfully turns it into one of the most dramatic events of the century.
The movie was only 101 minutes, an appropriate length for this topic, and introduced plenty of intriguing characters. I zoned out a few times but only until something else shocking or thought-provoking grabbed my attention again. The editing successfully created a film that flowed smoothly, making what could have been perceived as a school-structured lesson an entertaining venture.
On the other hand, as someone who knows only the basic concepts of art, it was difficult to find a solid connection to the topic- hence the zoning out. There were parts that weren't fully explained, which were not helped by the titles of the interviewees that were hard to read. Information seemed to come at you constantly, making it almost necessary to pause at a few scenes in order to collect your thoughts and stay on task.
I think the best part of this film being on DVD is that I had someone there watching it with me. We could stop at points and discuss it, or even talk over parts that weren't as interesting, and then have an even better conversation at the end of the film. Had I watched it alone, I might have had a less than positive opinion of the film. This is definitely one to watch with friends.
This story is important not only in the smaller sense of what is happening to Dr. Barnes' collection, but on a larger scale that power has a way of corrupting the most simple experiences. The Art of the Steal brings that idea to the forefront for all to see.
