It is upon this blighted stage that Chou steps out and brings the house down. Artist Unknown as a movie is a clenched New York indie fist that rises and has a mean left hook. And just like the painting in the movie, is it sitting on some thrift store website, waiting to be streamed?
Like the ever-present smell of pizza and urine on the sidewalks, Chou imbues Artist Unknown with that unique New York flavor you can’t get anywhere else. Gone are the coffee shop crushes of the idle bitch—here we have those famous real problems to worry about.
“…Chou delivers a roundhouse punch of a debut, with a lot of signs of many more victories ahead.”
Everyone here is barely getting by, with most having to get temporary gigs to scrape by in the city. Dating is still of the utmost importance, but that is because it is so integral to the living situation due to having to split the rent. It is this pulse of desperation that makes living on the edge and in the city the same thing. Chou makes sure the plot has more salty twists than a New York pretzel.
It is also commendable that Chou maintains a romantic tone rather than blaring into erotic amidst all the tension of the thriller. That first kiss cracks like thunder rolling down an uptown alley. The movie is not over-stylized at all, keeping things plain and simple. There are many great shots that make great use of the New York setting.
The thing that made me gleeful was how well the movie elements were used for high emotional fulfillment. It brought me back to films like My Bodyguard or Family Enforcer, where it gets you to the point of cheering at the screen. With Artist Unknown, Chou delivers a roundhouse punch of a debut, with a lot of signs of many more victories ahead.
"…it gets you to the pointing of cheering at the screen."
