Velvet Goldmine (Miramax 1998)
synopsis
(musical drama) Described as director/writer Todd Haynes' Valentine to the 70's glam rock era, VELVET GOLDMINE is a big, colourful bold tale following the pattern of CITIZEN KANE. Named after a David Bowie B-side, VELVET GOLDMINE follows a jaded, closeted journalist, Arthur Stuart (Bale) who, in 1984, is given the assignment to find out what happened to former glam rock king, Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Stuart must retrace his own life as an unhappy gay teenager in the 1970s to investigate the mysterious rise and fall of his former idol.
update
With a zesty Bowie/Iggy Pop style soundtrack, VELVET GOLDMINE rocks! So why didn't it rock the box office? Rumours on the Internet abound that Ewan McGregor, who plays another rock god who bares all, was under orders from George Lucas not to publicize this film since he had just won the role of Obi Wan Kenobi in PHANTOM MENACE - can't have the STAR WARS fan see Ewan's other light sabre, can we? And because Todd Haynes is American, the UK press seemed unwilling to let the British glam rock era be romanticized by a Yank filmmaker. But this is another one of Christian's great gems - a transformation from awkward fumbling gay teen to a cynical journalist. The flashback sequences are intriguing and the musical numbers are mesmerizing. Nominated for an Oscar, winner of a special Cannes award and nominated for a couple Indie Spirit Awards. A must see, listen and feel!
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