Julian (the) Schnob-el

No matter what you think of the guy and his ways you have to, at the very least, recognize him as a power to be reckon with in regards to art.  Maybe not for his art itself (I, for one, generally approve of his stuff), but for his name and everything he has left in his trail.  He's been chums with Basquiat, nominated for several Oscars, won Best Director at Cannes, and built a pink palazzo in Manhattan that has caused both uproar and admiration.  His films include Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and The Diving Bell and Butterfly.  It seems as he makes more films they get better.  You see the painter in him through his directing and it is a unique delight.  His next film, reportedly, takes place in the Middle East.  The story is based on a book written by Rula Jebreal.  According to this article, Schnabel's smoozing with the author (now that's a pretty author).  I guess what this entry was supposed to be about (I'm really still not sure) was how much of an asshole Schnabel can be.  The discussion of what makes a great artist or great director or great writer or great anyone has come up on numerous occasions, and on many of those occasions this question arises: does an individual, who happens to be a jerk, take anything away from their work as a result?  Personally, I think it only adds for those who enjoy the work, and takes away even more for those who didn't like it to begin with.  Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it goes for me.  He was on 60 Minutes Sunday night, only further convincing me of his assholeness, and I really couldn't get enough.  It's fantastic, really...