Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus Starring Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr.

The fictional biopic of iconic photographer Diane Arbus, Fur, starring Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr., could've been a tragic freak show. Thankfully under the guiding hands of director Steven Shainberg and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson (returning from their collaboration on Secretary) it transcends dull biographical cinema into a highly imaginative portrait. Arbus, the artist, is acclaimed the world over, as the opening statement of the film proclaims, she changed the face of 20^th century photography. Even people who don't know her name have probably seen her photographs or witnessed her influence somewhere in art.

There is definite rumor about Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Arbus contending for the 2007 Best Actress Oscar. The producers of the film must have foreseen this, picking the prime Oscar release month to get performances fresh in critics' minds. Robert Downey Jr. could very well be nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his part as Arbus' hairy neighbor Lionel. Not to mention a possible best screenplay nomination and one for Art Direction (Set Design). The visual brilliance of the film resonates into the collaborative efforts of Shainberg and Wilson, as art director Nick Ralbovsky also worked on Secretary, as did production designer Amy Danger. The surroundings of the film unravel from the plush Easter egg colors of 1950s décor into the grungy pleasantries later seen in Arbus' work. This production design follows thematically the unmasking of realities within Arbus' character and her neighborly love affair with Lionel.