Not An Artist Film Review: Artistic Questions

RZA sits at a dinner table looking ahead with people all around the table wearing blue robes in a still from the film Not An Artist

In Not An Artist, Alexi Pappas and Jeremy Teicher examine what it means for someone to use the title of artist and whether that designation is desirable.


Writers & Directors: Alexi Pappas & Jeremy Teicher
Genre: Comedy
Run Time: 97′
U.S. Release: January 31, 2025
U.K. Release: TBA
Where to Watch: Digital & VOD

The question of what it means to call yourself an artist is one that most creative people will ask at some point. In the new film Not An Artist, writers and directors Alexi Pappas and Jeremy Teicher approach that question from a unique perspective. They not only ask what it means to wear the title of “artist” but also probe the role of money in the creation of art and what genres and venues for producing art are considered legitimate. 

Alice (Alexi Pappas) decides it is time for her to finish her YA audiobook through a residency program established by The Abbott (RZA, Problemista) that allows artists thirty days to complete a dream project. She is there with Wesley (Haley Joel Osment, Blink Twice), a painter, Kimmy (Rosalind Chao, 3 Body Problem), a playwright, Dante (Gata, Self Reliance), a stop motion filmmaker, Indigo (Cleopatra Coleman, Infinity Pool), a sculptor, Christopher (Clark Moore, Love, Simon), a poet, and Claire (Ciara Bravo), a painter. Each of them is given time to finish their masterpiece, and if they are happy with it, they can collect a grant of $100,000. However, if they choose to quit before the end of the residency, they must agree never to call themselves an artist again

The conversations stemming from this simple premise are genuinely fascinating, pointing to the various ways people approach the definition of what it is to be an artist. Does money incentivize those who are seeking the life of an artist, or does it muddy the waters? If you’re unable to finish one big project, should you be banned from using the term to describe yourself, or does making that wager in itself indicate some failure to understand what it means to be an artist? Is it essential for one to suffer in order to be an artist, or is trauma a hindrance to art?

The character who helps to clarify some of these questions is Alice’s dad, Charles (Matt Walsh, Suncoast), who comes to the residency when he is experiencing issues with his telemedicine practice. His interactions with a number of the artists, as well as their conversations with one another throughout the month, offer us a glimpse at how some must work through their desires to become artists, how they respond to criticism, and how they are able to evaluate the value of the work they do regardless of titles. 

Haley Joel Osment and Cleopatra Coleman in Not An Artist
Haley Joel Osment and Cleopatra Coleman in Not An Artist (Utopia)

The ensemble in Not An Artist is exceedingly good. Comedic films with large casts often get mired down in the comedy, not allowing the themes to shine through. While this movie is quite funny, it doesn’t feel like there is a race to see who can land the next joke. Each character is allowed to shine without stepping on the toes of another’s performance. A sense of generosity is threaded throughout the acting. 

The biggest frustration with this movie is that a character is teased throughout the film as someone with an interesting and relevant backstory, but that is never explored. The end of the film seems to hint that this was a redemption arc for them, but because there was no context for their ending, it doesn’t pack the emotional punch that it intended. There are also a couple of characters in the primary ensemble whose stories feel cut off or not explored as deeply as they could have been. 

Still, Not An Artist dares to tackle questions that are seldom asked in a serious setting, let alone a comedy. But the decision to couch this as a comedy allows the profundity of these queries to be more fully realized. George Bernard Shaw said, “When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth.” In this film, the hidden truth is that whether or not you’re an artist is a question only you can answer.

Not An Artist: Movie Plot & Recap

Synopsis:

When Alice (Alexi Pappas) joins a thirty-day residency to focus on her writing, she and the other artists are forced to examine what it really means to be an artist and whether they have what it takes to wear that mantle.

Pros:

  • Asks insightful questions about what it means to be an artist
  • Fantastic ensemble performances
  • Funny without muting the overarching themes

Cons:

  • Some underdeveloped characters
  • The final shot is robbed of impact due to lack of context

Get it on Apple TV

Not An Artist will be available on digital platforms in the U.S. from January 31, 2025, with a preview screening at LA’s Dynasty Typewriter on January 27.

Not An Artist: Film Trailer (Utopia)

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