Velvet Goldmine (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
'Velvet Goldmine' (directed by the award-winning Todd Haynes) follows a young British journalist & glam-rock fan, Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), who recalls his own past while writing an article about the odd disappearance of a former bisexual glam-rock star, Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Brian Slade's career - which saw him as a rock god of the glam-rock era in London during the 1970s - ended during backlash from a failed publicity stunt - he faked being murdered on-stage during a performance, after which he slowly disappeared from public view/notoriety altogether. Arthur Stuart finds & talks with people connected to Slade, desperate to discover what happened to him those 10 years ago, & fondly recalls the eclectic glam-rock scene in a series of colorful vignettes.
In these vignettes, we meet Slade, his on-stage persona of 'Maxwell Demon', his backing band, 'Venus in Furs', his manager, Jerry Devine (Eddie Izzard), his collaborator & former lover, Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), his former wife, Mandy (Toni Collette), & various others involved in their wild & crazy lives. The movie uses a non-linear narrative structure to cross-cut the stories of the various characters throughout. And it is said to be loosely based on David Bowie's relationships with Reed & Pop of the same era; though, Bowie is said to have disliked this film's depiction of his persona and that of his band, as well.
What can I say? I can't blame David Bowie. No one comes across well, here. And aside from the sights & sounds in this movie - which are admittedly stunning - it's just an empty mess. There's very little sense of 'character' (from a writing/script standpoint). The movie is bogged down with self-important messages. The plot is dramatically inert; labored; running out of steam soon after the mildly engaging opening. And I'll take The Rocky Horror Picture Show - to this - any day.
As mentioned, the sights, sounds, glitter & manic energy distract you (occasionally) from how dull, disjointed, & off-puttingly offbeat most of this film is. Sandy Powell's costume designs are amazing. I don't begrudge the Oscar nomination that came her way. I also commend the make-up/hair work. The costumes & make-up lend to the new world of electrifying theatricality of the glam-rock era. The pops of color & psychedelic decadence is interesting to take-in. In terms of visual invention, 'Velvet Goldmine' is cool. But I did not get any kind of deep sociological insight into this specific (and loathsome, for me) pop-culture period. As a chronicle of the cultural & sexual rebellion of 1970s England, I was left bored beyond belief.
We all know that pop music can change lives. And we all know that music & fashion can be a vessel to expressing yourself. But regarding the characters in this movie, I say, 'well good for them ... just keep them far away from me' {haha}. Ick.
In these vignettes, we meet Slade, his on-stage persona of 'Maxwell Demon', his backing band, 'Venus in Furs', his manager, Jerry Devine (Eddie Izzard), his collaborator & former lover, Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), his former wife, Mandy (Toni Collette), & various others involved in their wild & crazy lives. The movie uses a non-linear narrative structure to cross-cut the stories of the various characters throughout. And it is said to be loosely based on David Bowie's relationships with Reed & Pop of the same era; though, Bowie is said to have disliked this film's depiction of his persona and that of his band, as well.
What can I say? I can't blame David Bowie. No one comes across well, here. And aside from the sights & sounds in this movie - which are admittedly stunning - it's just an empty mess. There's very little sense of 'character' (from a writing/script standpoint). The movie is bogged down with self-important messages. The plot is dramatically inert; labored; running out of steam soon after the mildly engaging opening. And I'll take The Rocky Horror Picture Show - to this - any day.
As mentioned, the sights, sounds, glitter & manic energy distract you (occasionally) from how dull, disjointed, & off-puttingly offbeat most of this film is. Sandy Powell's costume designs are amazing. I don't begrudge the Oscar nomination that came her way. I also commend the make-up/hair work. The costumes & make-up lend to the new world of electrifying theatricality of the glam-rock era. The pops of color & psychedelic decadence is interesting to take-in. In terms of visual invention, 'Velvet Goldmine' is cool. But I did not get any kind of deep sociological insight into this specific (and loathsome, for me) pop-culture period. As a chronicle of the cultural & sexual rebellion of 1970s England, I was left bored beyond belief.
We all know that pop music can change lives. And we all know that music & fashion can be a vessel to expressing yourself. But regarding the characters in this movie, I say, 'well good for them ... just keep them far away from me' {haha}. Ick.