Director Terry Zwigoff and comic book writer Dan Clowes team up again in attempt to duplicate the success of 2001's "Ghost World." And while their newest collaboration, "Art School Confidential," has a devious sense of humor and wit comparable to "Ghost World," "Art School" is not able to sustain a sense of empathy for its characters, and therefore the film stumbles long before its resolution.\nJerome Platz (Minghella) is a geeky incoming art student at an East coast school who initially wants nothing more than to be a rich and successful artist. By the second act of the film, Jerome wants nothing more than Audrey (Myles), a beautiful art model who knows everyone in the local art community. Jerome figures that if he can prove to Audrey that he truly is a greater artist than pretty boy classmate Jonah (Matt Keeslar), he can win her love. \nThen comes a seemingly random side plot. In passing, there is mention of a killer on the loose in town who strangles his victims. No one knows when or where he will strike next, only that he will strike again. Somehow Zwigoff is able to combine, though not exactly justify, this plot point with the rest of the story by its end. \n"Art School Confidential" is cleverly humorous, but the film does not know what genre it is attempting. Jerome's struggle to win over Audrey indicates romantic comedy, the strangler side plot indicates murder mystery and then there is the film's focus on art, but it is not exactly an "art film." For this reason the plot seems almost too burdensome to get wrapped up in. \nA strong point of this film, as was with "Ghost World," is the fact that it repeatedly points out and exploits the notion that there is a thin line between art and bullshit. Furthermore, it also does a good job of making fun of stereotypes: The gay art teacher who gives only As (Malkovich), the kiss-ass student, the meditating hippy and all the students who think crappy art is great art. The art-satire, as well as brief appearances by Steve Buscemi and Anjelica Huston, are almost enough to redeem the film by its end.
\n--Doug Evans
