Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

Director Steven Shainberg’s long awaited follow-up to his groundbreaking film "Secretary" (2002) is an anti-biopic that dares to read between the lines of its subject’s life rather than replay the common knowledge events of photographer Diane Arbus’ life. Screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson ("Secretary") worked from Patricia Bosworth’s esteemed book "Diane Arbus: A Biography" to create a thought-provoking tribute to Diane (pronounced Deeann) Arbus’ artistic awakening that transported her from repressed daughter, wife and mother to becoming one of the greatest photographic visionaries of the 20th century. Only a few factual threads comprise Shainberg’s adventurous tightrope narrative in which Diane (Nicole Kidman) ventures beyond the confines of her Manhattan apartment to photograph her mysterious upstairs neighbor Lionel (Robert Downey Jr.) who turns out to be covered in fur.

Rated R. 122 mins. (B) (Three Stars)