Amazon.com
Following vaguely in the footsteps of The People vs. Larry Flint, Dirty Pictures is a provocative retelling of an all-too-true story about the 1990 attempts to censor the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center's controversial Robert Mapplethorpe photography exhibit. The film gets directly at a quintessential, core principle that continues to fascinate Americans: Who gets to decide what forms of expression are valid? Does the constitutional right to freedom of expression apply to forms of expression you don't like? This film blends stock footage of both sides of the Cincinnati debate with actors' reenactments. James Woods's performance as the art museum's director Dennis Barrie is particularly impressive. The juxtaposition of real and fictional footage is extremely effective, and the result is a compellingly intelligent and emotionally gripping look at the issues of right-wing censorship in the arts.

The film contains images of Mapplethorpe's work and interpretations of its contexts and histories as well as insightful interviews with some of the subjects whose photos appeared in the original exhibit. But the art takes a back seat to the true hero of the film--the U.S. Constitution and its defenders. --Tara Chace

Product Description
Shocking. Stunning. Brilliant. These are some of the words that described artist Robert Mapplethorpes controversial 1990 photo exhibit and this "gripping, provocative and alarming" (The Washington Post) film about the show's censorship is equally as captivating. Starring OscarÂ(r) nominees* James Woods (The General's Daughter) and Diana Scarwid (Inside Moves), Dirty Pictures delves into the uproar over right-wing censorship of the arts in a true-to-life talethat is "chilling" (Los Angeles Times)! When the director of the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, Dennis Barrie (Woods), books a touring photo exhibit of the late Robert Mapplethorpe, he knows he's brought a major-league event to town. But when the Cincinnati sheriff (Craig T. Nelson) sees the sexually explicit photos, he shuts down the show charging Barrie with peddling obscenity! Determined to stand his ground, Barrie faces trial and risks losing his joband his familyto protect the right promised to every American by the Constitution'the freedom of expression! * Woods: Supporting Actor, Ghosts of Mississippi (1996); Actor, Salvador (1986); Scarwid: Supporting Actress, Inside Moves (1993)