Twenty-five years ago today, Todd Haynes’ impressionistic glam-rock fantasy Velvet Goldmine hit movie theaters, offering audiences a glimpse of a short-lived era of rock defined by artists like David Bowie, Marc Bolan, and Roxy Music. Told as a Citizen Kane-like investigation into the disappearance of fictional pop star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), the nonlinear film captured an energy and aesthetic vibrance that remains unparalleled. Its stacked cast also included Christian Bale as glam-rock fan-turned-journalist Arthur Stuart, Ewan McGregor as Iggy Pop-esque rocker Curt Wild, and Toni Collette...
- 11/6/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Christian Bale is known for disappearing into his roles and "Velvet Goldmine" was no exception. Written and directed by Todd Haynes, the 1998 movie was named for David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" era B-side. Haynes is no stranger to music movies, having begun his career with the 1987 controversial short film, "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story." He also helmed the incredible "I'm Not There" in 2007, which explored the various phases of Bob Dylan's career through a host of different actors. Haynes also made the excellent recent documentary about my all-time favorite band, "The Velvet Underground."
"Velvet Goldmine" chronicles the life of pop star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a Bowie-esque figure, as well as his love affair with the Iggy Pop-inspired Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor). Their performances are swoon-worthy — Meyers and McGregor both did their own singing in the movie. Plus, the film's fictional bands included members of Radiohead, Suede,...
"Velvet Goldmine" chronicles the life of pop star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a Bowie-esque figure, as well as his love affair with the Iggy Pop-inspired Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor). Their performances are swoon-worthy — Meyers and McGregor both did their own singing in the movie. Plus, the film's fictional bands included members of Radiohead, Suede,...
- 9/2/2022
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
There's nothing safe about Todd Haynes' ambitious, sensual and nostalgic musical romance "Velvet Goldmine", which divided critics at Cannes but won the filmmaker a special prize from the jury for best artistic contribution.
An upcoming Miramax release, "Goldmine" may not live up to its name at the boxoffice, but Haynes' sumptuously glamorous style, a glittery cast and super soundtrack will lure hip crowds in major markets and ensure a strong post-theatrical performance.
Set in the sex-and-drugs London music scene of the 1970s, evoking David Bowie, Brian Eno and other glam rockers, "Goldmine" is the story of fictional Brian Slade Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who fakes an on-stage shooting at the height of his career and disappears from sight when the hoax is revealed and his fans turn against him.
Ten years later, former fan and journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) goes searching for Slade. In the process, he revisits his idol's rise and fall through interviews with Slade's former lover, influential American star Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), and former wife, Mandy (Toni Collette).
Haynes freely admits that "Citizen Kane" is the inspiration for the film's complex structure and occasional razzle-dazzle sequences. Indeed, Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece is visually referenced in several scenes and individual shots, but there's one giant difference between the two challenging films from vastly different decades.
Welles effortlessly draws one into the still-relevant, decades-spanning mystery of a wealthy tycoon and makes one care about the diverse cast of characters, while Haynes finds little resonance beyond gloomy reflections about the dangers of too much freedom. In the most important aspect of a work of art that wants to elucidate and entertain -- keeping one's attention from straying when the bisexual, drug-taking leads are colorful but a little distant -- Haynes is only moderately successful.
While the grand design of the film will not work for all viewers, there are too many standout moments to call the work a disappointment. After the brilliant "Safe", Haynes can be forgiven trying to push the envelope of narrative filmmaking on a slightly bigger scale, and he often succeeds.
Rhys Myers and McGregor blaze across the screen with great fury in fabulous makeup and costumes, while Collette is a crucial presence in the two-hour film's winding second half. These three, along with Bale to a lesser degree, transform from bright creatures of the night to fallen angels, with an ironic twist at the end that underscores the eerily totalitarian "present day" setting in 1984.
The film's visual riffs are seductive, with robust cinematography by Maryse Alberti and splashy production design by Christopher Hobbs. The many songs on the soundtrack, including several penned by Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry, and on-screen performances by the likes of Brian Molko, Anthony Langdon, Steve Hewitt and Donna Matthews threaten to turn the movie into one long music video, but Haynes knows how to explore the souls of his characters as well as their revolutionary exteriors.
VELVET GOLDMINE
Miramax Films
A Zenith Prods./Killer Films production
in association with Single Cell Pictures
for Channel 4 Films, Goldwyn Films,
Miramax Films and Zenith Prods.
Writer-director: Todd Haynes
Producer: Christine Vachon
Executive producers: Scott Meek,
Michael Stipe, Sandy Stern
Director of photography: Maryse Alberti
Production designer: Christopher Hobbs
Editor: James Lyons
Costume designer: Sandy Powell
Hair and make-up designer: Peter King
Music: Carter Burwell
Casting: Susie Figgis, Laura Rosenthal
Color/stereo
Cast:
Curt Wild: Ewan McGregor
Brian Slade: Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Mandy Slade: Toni Collette
Arthur Stuart: Christian Bale
Jerry Divine: Eddie Izzard
Running time -- 123 minutes
No MPAA rating...
An upcoming Miramax release, "Goldmine" may not live up to its name at the boxoffice, but Haynes' sumptuously glamorous style, a glittery cast and super soundtrack will lure hip crowds in major markets and ensure a strong post-theatrical performance.
Set in the sex-and-drugs London music scene of the 1970s, evoking David Bowie, Brian Eno and other glam rockers, "Goldmine" is the story of fictional Brian Slade Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who fakes an on-stage shooting at the height of his career and disappears from sight when the hoax is revealed and his fans turn against him.
Ten years later, former fan and journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) goes searching for Slade. In the process, he revisits his idol's rise and fall through interviews with Slade's former lover, influential American star Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), and former wife, Mandy (Toni Collette).
Haynes freely admits that "Citizen Kane" is the inspiration for the film's complex structure and occasional razzle-dazzle sequences. Indeed, Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece is visually referenced in several scenes and individual shots, but there's one giant difference between the two challenging films from vastly different decades.
Welles effortlessly draws one into the still-relevant, decades-spanning mystery of a wealthy tycoon and makes one care about the diverse cast of characters, while Haynes finds little resonance beyond gloomy reflections about the dangers of too much freedom. In the most important aspect of a work of art that wants to elucidate and entertain -- keeping one's attention from straying when the bisexual, drug-taking leads are colorful but a little distant -- Haynes is only moderately successful.
While the grand design of the film will not work for all viewers, there are too many standout moments to call the work a disappointment. After the brilliant "Safe", Haynes can be forgiven trying to push the envelope of narrative filmmaking on a slightly bigger scale, and he often succeeds.
Rhys Myers and McGregor blaze across the screen with great fury in fabulous makeup and costumes, while Collette is a crucial presence in the two-hour film's winding second half. These three, along with Bale to a lesser degree, transform from bright creatures of the night to fallen angels, with an ironic twist at the end that underscores the eerily totalitarian "present day" setting in 1984.
The film's visual riffs are seductive, with robust cinematography by Maryse Alberti and splashy production design by Christopher Hobbs. The many songs on the soundtrack, including several penned by Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry, and on-screen performances by the likes of Brian Molko, Anthony Langdon, Steve Hewitt and Donna Matthews threaten to turn the movie into one long music video, but Haynes knows how to explore the souls of his characters as well as their revolutionary exteriors.
VELVET GOLDMINE
Miramax Films
A Zenith Prods./Killer Films production
in association with Single Cell Pictures
for Channel 4 Films, Goldwyn Films,
Miramax Films and Zenith Prods.
Writer-director: Todd Haynes
Producer: Christine Vachon
Executive producers: Scott Meek,
Michael Stipe, Sandy Stern
Director of photography: Maryse Alberti
Production designer: Christopher Hobbs
Editor: James Lyons
Costume designer: Sandy Powell
Hair and make-up designer: Peter King
Music: Carter Burwell
Casting: Susie Figgis, Laura Rosenthal
Color/stereo
Cast:
Curt Wild: Ewan McGregor
Brian Slade: Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Mandy Slade: Toni Collette
Arthur Stuart: Christian Bale
Jerry Divine: Eddie Izzard
Running time -- 123 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 5/27/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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