Velvet Goldmine

Whoops. For a brilliantly costumed movie about one of the most exciting periods in pop music history as well as three of the most attractive men on the planet (McGregor, Christian Bale, and the terrifyingly beautiful Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), this has got to be one of the most boring tales ever told about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. Even Toni Collette couldn't lift this heavyhanded, massively tedious allegory out of the doldrums. What might have been bearable at 90 mins drags on for a seemingly infinite 127 minutes. The color was all washed out for some reason, and the makeup, which was supposed to be fun, was just distracting. The connections with Oscar Wilde and Kurt Cobain went over my head, but I wasn't interested enough to watch it again and try to figure it out.

... If you want to relive the 70s better just to put Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on the turntable, dress up in Lycra and draw zigzags on your face with lipstick. You'll have a lot more fun than I did watching this tape.

The one star is because you do get to see Ewan nekkid, and like I said, Bale and Meyers are lovely to look at.


GLITTER THAT MAKES YOUR MOUTH WATER   August 23, 2004
Di (United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Set in London in the early `70s during the start of the Glam Rock scene is Brian Slade, talented rock star with no fans. Brian seeks fame with his American wife Mandy and together they struggle to find it until Brain meets Curt Wild. Brian meets Curt Wild, a fellow rocker, and together they set out to change the world along. Meanwhile, a teenage boy, Arthur Staurt, idolizes and finds comfort through is own homosexuality though Brian and Curt. But at the peek of Brain's career, he fakes his own death and is lost in the dust. Ten years later, an adult Arthur, who is a journalist for the Herald, is told to unfold the mystery behind Brain Slade's disappearance.
The acting and cast is done amazingly. Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays Brian Slade, is absolutely perfect for his sweet but nasty rock star role. His baby doll face and luscious lips shift from a delicate kiss to an intense freak out scene with swift ease. Toni Collette, who plays Brian's wife Mandy, starts off as a gullible party girl, to a scandalous head case, and finally to a cynical survivor. Ewan McGregor's character Curt Wild is a mix of Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain smashed into one sweet, lovable, tantrum throwing, heroin addicted rock star. McGregor brings to his character what Johnny Deep brings to Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." Both are original and leave a huge impression on the audience. Christian Bale, who plays Arthur Staurt, does a great job for his coy and mysterious character. You have to give him mucho credit because for the one uncomfortable intimate scene with himself he had to do, in which he gets caught by his parents. It's an intense scene that makes you really feel for his character and what a struggle his life is. And for you diehard Placebo fans, yes that is right, they are in this film. They do not have a huge acting roll, but you can see them sing two songs and say a couple of lines. For you crazy Molko lovers out there who just want to see his face and hear him speak, don't expect to see too much of the sexy Placebo singer, but there is enough for you to have a taste. (Mind you it's a very small taste.)
It is no surprise that "Velvet Goldmine" was nominated at the 1998 Academy Awards for best costume design. From the screaming colors, platform shoes, love beads, and male belly shirts the teenagers wear, to the sequenced glitter tops, tight leather pants, fluffy boas, and beautiful black nail varnish the rock stars sport, "Velvet Goldmine" does not cut the audience sort when it comes to fashion eye candy. And let me tell you it is a real treat. Brain's alter ego, Maxwell Demon (which freakishly resembles the whole Ziggy Stardust thing David Bowie had going on) has a beautiful costume that consists of blue body paint, black eyeliner, glitter dust, and dazzling body jewels and sequences. If the audience has not experienced glitter rock, he or she will with just the costumes alone.
Although the Glam craze was dressed up like a beauty pageant, the music was still the most important piece to the glistening puzzle. All the music is `70s Glam inspired. This flick has a lot of original Glam songs from the likes of Iggy Pop, Brian Eno, and T-Rex. The renditions of songs such as "T.V. Eye," "Baby's on Fire," and "20th Century Boy" are done in an original manor, but also keep their natural flare. As I said before, Placebo is featured in the film as The Flaming Tongues and goes a great rendition of "20th Century Boy." Not only does Brian Molko from Placebo has a great voice, but so does Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor. Their voices range from a distraught scream, to a jazzy bounce, and finally to a sweet ballad. The music in this film is not to missed. I highly suggest the soundtrack to this film. It's very very good.
All right, here comes where the critics come in. Most critics did not like this film, which is a shame because I think it's a beautiful film. I think one of the main reasons they didn't like it was because the story line is pretty hard to follow at first. It's cut into pieces and does not go in a linear pattern. If you're up for that, I suggest you watch the movie and don't freak out if you don't get it at first. Then after thinking about it watch it a second time and I guarantee you'll see it much differently and you'll actually get it. Another nonsupporter of this film is surprisingly enough Mr. David Bowie. This could have to do with the anti-Bowie slant of the film or as he said something about how it didn't feel like the whole `70s Glam craze. He said it felt like the early `80s or something of that effect. Sure, he's probably right because he was there, but if you don't view the film on being some historical masterpiece, and appreciate it for it's beautiful story, I think you'll like it. It's a fairy tale with a setting. Bowie did say he did like the way the director showed the beautiful love story between Brian and Curt. And I have to agree, the director did an amazing job. You can really feel what he was trying to say with it.
"Velvet Goldmine" is arguably one of the most original, jaw dropping, charming films to date. It is a film for mature audiences because of the language, drugs, sexuality, and uh Ewan's "saber." "Velvet Goldmine" is recommended to anyone who liked the movie "Gia," likes to piece things together, has an open mind, has patients, has a taste for delicious music, and has a soft spot for hunks in drag.