Rating: 
Summary: Too artistic for words
Review: I must say the first time I saw this, I was a bit irked by it. But I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I watched it again, and it all seemed to make sense. The story seems very accurate in portraying the life of the glam-rock period, and Haynes has written a strong, feasible screenplay. The artistic value of this film is STUNNING! But I guess it would have to be given the film's extreme, decadent, and hedonistic undertones. But what stands out to me are the performances. Rhys-Meyers is great as slade, and McGregor consistently has good characters in his movies. Bale gives a wonderfully subtle and believable performance as the idol-worshipping and naive teen turned to an adult coping with memories of his part in the lives of Bryan Slade (Meyers) and Curt Wild (McGregor). But the true meat of this film, and I will die saying this, is Toni Collette's performance as Slade's party-going, burnt out American playing British wife. And this is the time to say--how blessed we all are to have an actress as incredible as Collette in film today. Her performances are always original, believeable and I bet that she could play any part that you gave her. She, in my opinion, makes this movie worth watching again and again! Keep doing beautful work, Toni Collette!
Rating:
Summary: A cross between Citizen Kane and Lisztomania
Review: I didn't watch the movie with any preconceived notions about Ziggy Stardust, Iggy Pop, or any of the others, and I think that helped. The movie is like a cross between Citizen Kane and Lisztomania, if you can imagine that. My hormones insisted I rent this movie, and my hormones were not disappointed. Such beautiful, beautiful boys! Although the story focuses upon the life of Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Myers), I was more interested in Curt Wilde (Ewan McGregor). I think anyone whose career is jumpstarted by electroshock treatment deserves more attention paid to them. What I want to know is the connection between Oscar Wilde and Curt? Although Curt is American, he does eventually receive Oscar's space brooch. What does this mean? And they have the same last names, so does that mean they are related? Who knows? The plot isn't exactly easy to follow. Despite the confusing plot ride, the movie is eye candy of the most delicious and calorific sort. Brian Slade and Curt Wilde's kiss is the best kiss I have ever seen on film, and the orgiastic scenes of decadent nudity scan like a postparty nap at the Playgirl mansion. It's too bad we didn't see more of Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale). We saw everyone else's butts, so why not his? Heh... My last question is this: how did these skinny little men get into their skinny little pants? The fabric is tight! Were they sewn into them, like Marilyn Monroe into her JFK birthday dress? This enquiring mind wants to know.
Rating:
Summary: Oscar Wilde is an Alien!
Review: At least, according to this movie! It opens with a UFO in the sky and Lady Wilde finding an baby on her doorstep. It matters because the pin found on his blanket changes hands throughout the film, first found in a schoolyard by young Jack Fairy. This is an art flick about the 1970's glam world. I discovered in watching it how little I actually knew of that world; I knew 1980's glam, which is a whole different ball of wax. It's about Brian Slade, glam star who staged his own death in 1974 and then disappeared. It's about his boyfriend Curt Wild. And it's about a reporter investigating Slade 10 years later, a reporter who turns out to have been intimately involved in the story. The reporter is played by Christian Bale, also known as Lindsay on TV's Angel. The odd thing is he plays a Brit, while Ewan McGregor's character (Wild) is American. If you are one of those people who is considering seeing this just for Ewan, I have three words for you: full frontal nudity.
Rating: 
Summary: Dream was not over
Review: Most films about rock stars are a failure. They easily get lost in excesses of the "sex, drugs and rock & roll" stereotype (e.g. The Doors, though Val Kilmer does play a terrific Jim Morrison). "Velvet Goldmine" is the only exception I know so far. The director managed to recreate a rock age and its feelings with elegance and intelligence. Plot, customs and staff are superb.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning
Review: When I first saw this movie, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I was immediately hooked and loved it from beginning to end. I also became a glam rock convert...the music is most excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: Does a Good Job Evoking the Glam Rock Era But Who Cares?
Review: I vaguely recall Todd Haynes' film "Safe" from 1994; it was a strange but compelling movie starring Julianne Moore. As for this ambitious failure, it does a good job re-creating the "glam rock" era, though that's not a particularly interesting period in rock history (despite the nice costumes). But I have to admire any movie that rips off "Citizen Kane". Ewan MacGregor makes an impression as "Curt Wilde" (Iggy Pop?), but I never really got hooked by the whole story of "Brian Slade" (David Bowie?). Still, it's always a treat to see the lovely Toni Collette.
Rating:
Summary: A feast for eyes and ears - enjoy the ride
Review: Intensely yummy. Great soundtrack, and lots and lots and lots of (scantily clad) lovely longhaired boys who Love Each Other (in their own way). Stylistically interesting too: swoony and surreal in parts, hard-edged and gritty in others, with lots of refs to other movies. I loved it, but it's definitely more a Guilty Pleasure to Great Art. (And it's pretty obvious why David Bowie wouldn't let them use any of his music!)
Rating: 
Summary: All That Glitters is Not Gold
Review: As an Artist, Filmmaker, and music fan who experienced Glitter (now called Glam) Rock firsthand, I was greatly disappointed. The film is not intended to be historically accurate, and that is the only thing good that can be said- it achieved a great level of inaccuracy. The Bowie and Pop characters are so thinly veiled that they become parodies rather than representations of the time. Trust me folks- Glitter was not this shallow. The acting is wooden, the representation of the era laughable, and the original music for the film was horrible. The only good thing I can say about this film is that it used many Eno, Roxy, Pop and Reed songs. Forget Velvet Goldmine- buy the original albums.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, I was moved by your screen dream
Review: This is a Roxy Music and Bowie Fan's dream come true. The Music selection is fabulous, the camerawork and setting exquisite. Story contents is weak but if you are willing to experience a two-hour music video clip on Glam-Rock, this is as good as it can get. I was curious about the movie since it received so many mixed reviews, but I was hooked from the beginning to the end, bought the soundtrack, bought every CD the soundtrack was related to (a few of them I didn't have) and now bought the DVD. Rates up high with me. But, well, yes, it ain't no piece of classic cinema. Grumble.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent peice of Glam History
Review: From the first time I saw this film I became an instant fan of the whole glam rock scene. It was a great and very brave flick, I enjoyed every minute of it. The storyline is very interesting, the casting is superb(esp Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale and Ewan McGregor), I have the soundtrack and it is worth every penny. I'm only young and I didn't live in the seventies but to all of you who did I'm so jelous as this film has brought the decade to life. BUY THE VID AND SOUNTRACK IT'S WORTH IT!
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