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Downtown 81

  • 2000
  • Unrated
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Downtown 81 (2000)
After being released from the hospital, the artist Jean Michel Basquiat wanders around Manhattan trying to sell art to make money and find a place to stay.
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
17 Photos
ComedyDramaMusic

After being released from the hospital, the artist Jean Michel Basquiat wanders around Manhattan trying to sell art to make money and find a place to stay.After being released from the hospital, the artist Jean Michel Basquiat wanders around Manhattan trying to sell art to make money and find a place to stay.After being released from the hospital, the artist Jean Michel Basquiat wanders around Manhattan trying to sell art to make money and find a place to stay.

  • Director
    • Edo Bertoglio
  • Writer
    • Glenn O'Brien
  • Stars
    • Jean Michel Basquiat
    • John Lurie
    • Richard Weigand
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edo Bertoglio
    • Writer
      • Glenn O'Brien
    • Stars
      • Jean Michel Basquiat
      • John Lurie
      • Richard Weigand
    • 11User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Official Trailer

    Photos17

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    + 9
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Jean Michel Basquiat
    Jean Michel Basquiat
    • Jean
    • (archive footage)
    John Lurie
    John Lurie
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Weigand
    • Doctor
    Cyndy Schneidau
    • Nurse
    Millie Schneidau
    • Nurse
    Steven Z. Soszynski
    • Grocer
    Anna Schroeder
    • Béatrice
    Giorgio Gomelsky
    • Landlord
    • (as Giorgio Giomelsky)
    Ted Bafaloukos
    • Junk Dealer
    Bobby Grossman
    • East Village Junkie
    Mickey Clean
    • Pot Dealer
    Roberta Bayley
    Roberta Bayley
    • Street Girl
    Dave Street
    • Musician
    Tish Bellomo
    • Manic Panic Girl
    Snooky Bellomo
    • Manic Panic Girl
    Kool Kyle
    • Rapper
    Claudia Summers
    • Friend in Park
    Tuxedomoon
    • Themselves
    • Director
      • Edo Bertoglio
    • Writer
      • Glenn O'Brien
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Since 1981, Glenn O'Brien had possession of all of the live musical performance recordings. Unfortunately, the original voice soundtrack was lost in Italy by the film storage vault. The producers were able to get most of the original cast to re-dub their dialogue. But Jean Michel Basquiat died in 1988. So Saul Williams was hired to dub Basquiat's dialogue.
    • Quotes

      Jean Michel Basquiat: I'm an artist. When you tell people that they usually say, 'what's your medium?' I usually say, 'extra large.'

    • Alternate versions
      In the 2001 version, Downtown 81, Saul Williams does the voiceover for Jean-Michel Basquiat's character.
    • Connections
      Featured in Basquiat (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Palabras Con Ritmo
      Written by Jean Michel Basquiat and Coati Mundi
      Performed by Coati Mundi
      Courtesy of Coati Mundi Productions

    User reviews11

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    Absolutely fascinating...

    ...document of life in downtown New York 1981. I saw this at the Stockholm film festival, November 2000. Apparently the film had just been completed. Where has it been for 20 years????

    I loved seeing all of those people from the art and rock worlds. Jean Michel Basqiat is so cute and a good actor too! What a shame he died young. I didn´t know he had a band too. It´s fun seeing New Wave bands like Kid Creole and the Plastics. Gorgeous Debbie Harry is in it too!!! *sigh!*

    Everyone is so colorful! I love the 80´s fashions... It has a dreamlike feel to it. See it if you can!
    • Xanadu-2
    • Nov 21, 2000
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Downtown 81?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 2001 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Glenn O'Brien's New York Beat Movie
    • Production company
      • New York Beat Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $231,445
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,436
      • Jul 15, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $231,445
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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