Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23042 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-10
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 118 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Somewhat misleadingly described by many as a mock-biopic based on the life of David Bowie, Velvet Goldmine is so much more than that. Journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) who sets out to discover whatever happened to Ziggy Stardust-like Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), the famous bisexual glam star who crashed and burned spectacularly, but in the process helped Arthur awaken his own sexuality. It's an insane homage to 1970s glam rock in the UK as only American, who knew the movement from a distance, would make; it's a tribute to film director Nicolas Roeg's best work, particularly Performance and the Bowie-vehicle The Man Who Fell to Earth; it's a sci-fi movie about an alternative reality (the film's "present" is a 1984 that never existed and frustratingly never clearly explained); it's a queer Citizen Kane with lashings of eye-glitter, a complete mess, an absolute delight and a chance to see Ewan McGregor naked in case you didn't catch him in The Pillow Book as the Iggy Pop-like Curt Wild, Slade's lover/protégé.

Director Todd Haynes, who made the incredibly spare Safe and a biopic about Karen Carpenter with Barbie dolls, crams in everything--including the kitchen sink, all the washing-up and half the larder--as if terrified he'll never get another chance to shoot even a commercial again. The pacing drags like catwalk-queen's glittery taffeta train at times, but then glorious swooping musical numbers and clever bits of allusive business arrive that will brighten the day of many a pop-fan and film-buff. Never anything less than ruthlessly inventive and demanding of patience and an open mind, it's one for connoisseurs. Viewers who prefer easy-viewing eye candy are well advised to stick with fluff like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. --Leslie Felperin

Video Description

DVD Special Features:
Full motion menu
Scene selection
Theatrical trailer
Behind the Glam & the Glitter
Picture Show/Photo Library
Printable Photo Library

Aspect ratio: 16:9 anamorphic / 4:3 full fram
Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1 / Dolby Surround

Synopsis
Loosely based on the experiences and personalities of David Bowie and Iggy Pop, VELVET GOLDMINE is a wild, glitter-laced trip through the 1970s era of glam rock. Fictional characters Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor) are personifications of glam rock's ideals, with the mysterious and androgynous Slade balanced by the intense, raucous Wild. When Slade disappears, the era itself seems to melt away, swallowed up by the slick 1980s. But Slade's story, and the story of glam rock, is retold when journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) is assigned to discover what really happened to Slade. Through his own memories of this time, Arthur faces his childhood fears and fantasies. With a nod to Oscar Wilde, a CITIZEN KANE-like structure, and an overall sumptuous atmosphere, VELVET GOLDMINE is director Todd Haynes's unique look at homosexuality, indulgence, and, most importantly, rock 'n' roll.

Customer Reviews

Where to begin?
The acting is fantastic - Jonathan Rhys Meyers looking very young lends himself wonderfully to the asexual Brian Slade, and there's the odd naked shot (not enough of him though girls!) to keep you interested. Ewan McGregor is dashingly good and the supporting cast including Toni Collette, Eddie Izzard and Placebo do their parts full justice. The hair and makeup on Toni Collette is especially effective at charting the passage of time. And of course Christian Bale captures the essence of fandom perfectly in his role as Arthur Stuart.

The music is fantastic with Rhys Meyers performing many of his songs (and he's a pretty good singer!) as well as a couple by Ewan, more recently known for his contribution to Moulin Rouge!'s music. Also present are a selection of other songs such as "Make Me Smile" and "20th Century Boy" (ah, we love Placebo!) fitting the era and atmosphere - though I wasn't even born then so perhaps I am less critical than someone who remembers Bowie's greatness!

I also loved the way the film was put together. The jolting touches of memory and somewhat irregular presentation as Arthur digs out the truth lead the viewer to conclusions and provide for an intriguing storyline (ripped straight out of Citizen Kane). The music videos are great to watch and revisit via the chapter selection and the documentary on the DVD is also pretty good although in my opinion was too much about the era and not enough about the film!

All in all, get this film if you're into slightly alternative cinema, glam rock or just gay issues :) There are some wonderful lines from Brian on bisexuality but you'll have to wait and see them for yourself :)

The whole shebang!
This film absolutely glitters. Literally. It can be enjoyed on so many levels: the twisting, turning plot; the scrumptiousness of Ewan McGregor (looking eerily KurtCobain-esque) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers; the jump-up-and-down-on-your-bed-and-annoy-the-hell-out-of-your-parents music (the whole soundtrack is excellent); or just for the sheer adrenaline (and coke) fuelled rush through glam, which is so FUN.

I'm far too young to remember glam in all its glory, but this film makes me want to travel back in time and share in a bit of the glitterlove.

The cast is excellent. Jonathan Rhys Meyers glitters prettily as Brian, Ewan McGregor rocks as Curt (who 'goes bonkers every time he hears an electric guitar), Christian Bale is so real and tangible as Arthur (the glitterfan exploring his sexuality), and Toni Collette sparkles as the wonderful Mandy (glittering wife of the star).

Placebo also star as The Flaming Creatures, and any Placebo fan should watch this film for Brian Molko alone.

Achingly angsty, touchingly romantic, sufficiently twisted, and unashamed of exploring and exploiting sexuality, this film simply sparkles.

Only to be watched if you're prepared to get into the spirit of things and embrace the glitter. Most definately to be played at maximum volume.

Citizen Kane meets Glam Rock.
Unlike, apparently, a lot of the other reviewers on this page I AM old enough to remember Glam Rock, and I still think it was one of the most colourful, over-the-top era's in music. This film, bizarre though it is, fully does it justice. Arthur Stuart is a Brit working on a New York newspaper, who is told to find out what happened to Brian Slade, a phenomenally successful Bowie-esque rock star whose career plummetted after he faked his own assassination on stage 10 years before, and hasn't been heard of since. It turns out that Arthur (a very good Christian Bale) had something of a crush on Slade when he was a teenybopper himself. His investigation takes on a very Citizen Kane-ish turn, as he interviews people who were important in Slade's life (his ex-manager, his ex-wife etc). Everywhere he goes though he meets a dead end as to what has happened to Slade since. The twist when it comes at the end is worth the wait.

The early 1970s is done brilliantly here, and is a wonderful nostalgia-fest for some of us. An age when everyone happily dressed like circus clowns, and hair straighteners and pallid complexions were unheard of. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who I think is a ridiculously under-rated actor, does a sublime performance as Slade, and Ewan McGregor gives a full-throttle turn as the tortured, heavy rocker, Curt Wild. Eddie Izzard is allowed, for once, to step away from his cross-dressing comedian persona, to play Slade's hard-nosed manager with great relish. Toni Collette is also superb as Slade's ex-wife, Mandy, used and cheated by Slade's celebrity bandwagon. The soundtrack is an absolute dream, and the whole early 1970s obsession with the Roaring Twenties and how it influenced the Glam Rock phenomenon is spot-on. Perhaps if you want a more realistic slant on 1970s celebrity you should try David Essex's "Stardust", (very bleak though that is at times), but this is good if you just want an OTT tribute to the era that style (allegedly) forgot.