Velvet Goldmine

Name: Velvet Goldmine
Director: Todd Haynes
Genre: Drama, Music, Arts and culture, Musical
Released: 1998
Duration: 1 h 58 min
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Toni Collette, Christian Bale, Eddie Izzard

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Drama
Music

1998
Todd Haynes
118 mins
18

Summary

An American journalist is sent to investigate the story of a legendary 1970s glam rock star whose iconic status was sealed when he was apparently murdered during a concert - a death later revealed to be a fake. Drama, with Ewan McGregor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers playing characters based on Iggy Pop and David Bowie. With Christian Bale, Toni Collette and Eddie Izzard

IMDB

Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Kevin Harley

More than a mere snapshot of an era, writer/director Todd Haynes's valentine to glam rock adopts the genre's styles and strategies with wit, ingenuity and exuberance. The Citizen Kane-ish story sees journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) attempting to uncover the truth about Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a former rock idol-turned-recluse. As a composite portrait of Slade emerges from the investigation, so Stuart explores his own selfhood and sexuality. Zeroing in on glam rock's embrace of pastiche and mutable identities, Haynes adopts a Bowie-esque magpie aesthetic with panache and fluency, folding real figures into fictional characters in an ambitious blend of history and fantasy. Alongside Bale's quietly affecting lead and Meyers's elusive peacock, the film is energised by electric performances from Ewan McGregor, Toni Collette and Eddie Izzard. Best of all, the era-spanning soundtrack combines a celebration of glam's utopian idealism with wistful nostalgia to lush, rousing effect.

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6.9/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameCurt WildEwan McGregorBrian SladeJonathan Rhys MeyersMandy SladeToni ColletteArthur StuartChristian BaleJerry DevineEddie IzzardShannonEmily WoofCecilMichael FeastFemale narratorJanet McTeer

Crew

rolenameDirectorTodd Haynes

Details

Released on

1998-10-23

Languages

English | French

Guidance

Contains violence, swearing, drug abuse, sex scenes and nudity.

Available on

video and DVD

Formats

Colour