They say that art is in the eye of the beholder, but is that really true? Can anything really become art depending on who thinks so? Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega see just how twisted this idea can go in The Gallerist, Cathy Yan’s dark comedy which premiered earlier this year at Sundance.
Portman and Ortega are joined by Zach Galifianakis, Sterling K. Brown, Daniel Brühl, Charli xcx, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film is co-written by James Pederson and Yan, the latter probably best known for the DC Universe film Birds of Prey.
Set against the glittering excess of Art Basel Miami, The Gallerist follows an ambitious gallery owner (Portman) clinging to the edge of elite society and desperate to prove herself on the heels of a nasty separation, facing mounting financial hardship. What begins as an impromptu act of survival—when she conspires to pass off an accidental corpse as the centerpiece of her debut show—spirals into a sly game of deception, spectacle, and ticking-clock chaos as influencers and police converge. Will she end up famous, a felon, or both?
I don’t remember much positive buzz after its Sundance premiere, which might be why Roadside Attraction and Vertical waited until August to acquire it. The Gallerist is set to open in theaters on December 4th, and with that cast and absurdist premise, it could find a more receptive audience.
