Watch Love is the Devil

Love is the Devil is a biopic that explores the life and art of the famous British painter Francis Bacon. The movie is set in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time when Bacon was at the height of his career but also grappling with his own personal demons. The movie was released in 1998 and stars Derek Jacobi as Bacon, Daniel Craig as his younger lover George Dyer, and Tilda Swinton as his friend and muse Muriel Belcher.

The movie begins with a shot of Bacon standing alone in a gallery, looking at his own paintings. The camera then pans back to show a group of people watching him, and we hear the sound of a party in the background. This juxtaposition of isolation and social interaction sets up the central tension of the movie: Bacon's desire for artistic recognition and his inability to form lasting relationships.

The movie then flashes back to the early 1960s, when Bacon meets George Dyer, a petty criminal with a fondness for alcohol and drugs. Bacon is immediately drawn to Dyer's rough exterior and vulnerability, and the two begin a tumultuous relationship that lasts until Dyer's tragic death in 1971. Throughout the movie, we see Bacon struggle to balance his love for Dyer with his own sense of self-preservation. He is torn between wanting to protect Dyer and wanting to use him as a model for his paintings.

In addition to exploring Bacon's personal life, the movie also delves into his artistic process. We see him experimenting with different techniques and styles, often at the expense of his own mental and physical well-being. He spends long hours in his studio, smoking, drinking, and obsessively working on his paintings. The movie's visuals and cinematography are deliberately jarring and disorienting, mirroring Bacon's own frenzied state of mind.

Throughout the movie, Tilda Swinton's Muriel Belcher serves as a stabilizing force for Bacon. Belcher is a lesbian bar owner who befriends Bacon early in his career and remains one of his closest confidants. She understands his artistic vision and supports him in his moments of despair. Swinton's performance is understated but powerful, conveying a sense of quiet strength and compassion.

Love is the Devil is a movie that requires patience and investment from its viewers. It is not a straightforward biopic or a conventional love story. Instead, it is a complex portrait of an artist grappling with his own desires and demons. The movie is anchored by strong performances from Jacobi, Craig, and Swinton, who bring depth and nuance to their respective roles. Director John Maybury's unconventional approach to storytelling creates a vivid and immersive world that both captivates and unnerves the viewer.

While Love is the Devil may not be for everyone, those who are willing to engage with it will be rewarded with a compelling and unforgettable cinematic experience. It is a movie that stays with you long after the credits roll, leaving you with a deeper understanding of the complexities of both love and art.

Love is the Devil is a 1998 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes.