For No Good Reason (2012, documentary) or, Ralph Steadman, Artist

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Johnny Depp and Ralph Steadman walk together as friends in a landscape made up of the latter's humorous and grotesque art characters on this poster for Charlie Paul's For No Good Reason

For No Good Reason tells the story of British artist Ralph Steadman, who went from the tyranny of an authoritative school to friendship with American writer Hunter S. Thompson, protest in several of his works, inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci, - up to a look at the artist's life as an aging gentleman at the time of the documentary.

For No Good Reason is a great biographical documentary by debuting Charlie Paul (Prophecy (2019, documentary)).
Steadman seems like an inevitable artist, and his urge to create and his expressive works are impressive, poignant and inspiring. The documentary is exciting and intimate, also giving us the artist at work and incorporating an element that Steadman himself shuns, namely the fight about taking credit for the Steadman/Thompson cooperation.
The title of the film, which is a Steadman quote, isn't bad, but perhaps another one could have invoked the man better. For No Good Reason has animation of some of Steadman's works, incredibly (and enigmatically) achieved, and it is a generous and lively portrait of a true artist.

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: 67k $ (North America online)
= Uncertain - but certainly a mega-flop
[For No Good Reason premiered 12 October (London Film Festival) and runs 89 minutes. The film screened at 4 film festivals, and in unspecified releases in Japan and South Korea. It opened #87 to a 4k $ first weekend in 2 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #73 and in 21 theaters, grossing 67k $. It has been shown on TV in at least 3 countries. If made on a tiny 0.5 mil. $ budget, the film would still rank as a mega-flop with the gross registered. Paul returned with Cherrywood Cannon (2012, short) and theatrically with Prophecy (2019, documentary). For No Good Reason is fresh at 62 % with a 6.15/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of For No Good Reason?