Watch Beautiful Losers

Beautiful Losers is a documentary film that explores the lives and work of a group of artists who emerged from the underground culture of skateboarding, punk rock, and street art in the 1990s. Directed by Aaron Rose and Joshua Leonard, the film features interviews and footage of ten artists who were part of a collective known as the Beautiful Losers: Harmony Korine, Ed Templeton, Mike Mills, Stephen Powers, Geoff McFetridge, Margaret Kilgallen, Thomas Campbell, Barry McGee, Chris Johanson, and Shepard Fairey.

The film traces the origins of the Beautiful Losers back to a DIY art show in New York City's Alleged Gallery in 1991. The show, titled "DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture," featured work by artists who were inspired by the punk rock aesthetic and the idea of making art accessible to anyone, regardless of formal training or education. The Beautiful Losers collective grew out of this scene, as a group of artists who bonded over their shared love of skateboarding, music, and outsider culture.

Through interviews with the artists, the film explores the themes and ideas that they explore in their work. Many of the artists, such as Ed Templeton and Mike Mills, draw on their own personal experiences and memories to create art that is deeply personal and expressive. Others, such as Stephen Powers and Barry McGee, use street art and graffiti to comment on the urban landscape and social issues such as gentrification.

One of the key themes that runs through the film is the idea of art as a means of resistance or rebellion against mainstream culture. The Beautiful Losers reject the idea of art as something that exists only in galleries and museums, and instead see it as a way of connecting with everyday people and challenging the status quo.

The film also examines the impact that the Beautiful Losers have had on the art world and popular culture more broadly. Many of the artists featured in the film have gone on to achieve mainstream success and recognition, with Shepard Fairey becoming particularly well-known for his iconic "Hope" poster of Barack Obama.

Overall, Beautiful Losers is a fascinating and insightful portrait of a group of artists who have had a profound impact on popular culture. Through interviews and archival footage, the film captures the spirit of a generation that rejected the status quo and embraced creativity in all its forms. Whether you are a fan of street art, punk rock, or DIY culture, this film is sure to inspire and entertain.

Beautiful Losers is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 59.