Art of the Steal is a documentary full of bias and unrepentantly one-sided, yet hugely entertaining and informative. I'm surprised by other reviewers' claim that the institution is so inaccessible. I'm not from Philadelphia, have visited twice, and didn't find it particularly difficult to get to or visit. I'm also deeply appreciative of the care and idiosyncrasy the Barnes Foundation has displayed in nurturing the art collection and living up to its educational mission. It is not a museum nor was it ever intended for that purpose. While the film is pure agitprop and borrows some of the more questionable tactics of the likes of Michael Moore, it shows convincingly how power brokers in Philadelphia, notably the Annenbergs and the Pew Charitable Trust, conspired to take over the Barnes under the guise of "protecting it." The fact that the collection is probably valued at more than $30 billion and the considerable power its "protector" will wield in the art world are not minor considerations. In the process, these faux benefactors violated the will of its owner, destroyed a unique gem in the art world, and ran roughshod over the will of the people in Merion. In the end, this is a film about power, wealth, manipulation, and dirty politics in Philadelphia. It is also a cautionary tale about how corruption runs close to those who claim to stand for freedom. The liberty bell is pretty silent on the issue.
Review of The Art of the Steal
