Rating: Summary: How Did Anyone Get Away With This Review: Todd Haynes should have been massively sued by the rock stars he depicts in this film as "ficticious characters". C'mon, it's clear that Kurt Wild is Iggy Pop and Brian Slade is David Bowie, and his "Maxwell Demon" personna is clearly Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period. These character even perform music from the guys they are supposed to be. I think the ficticious artists should have performed original songs only that were written for the film. The other thing that bothers me is that the whole glam period is depicted mostly as a "gay thing", and all the male characters are shown frequently hopping into bed with one another. The inclusion of some other great music in the soundtrack (Roxy Music,T. Rex, Eno, Lou Reed)while all cool, kind of left me with a bad taste in my mouth, feeling like a great disservice was done to the memory of some of my favorite artists in their prime.
Rating: Summary: Embarrassing Review: This movie is so bad I felt like being sick. It tells the story of Brian Slade (a.k.a "Maxwell Demon"), a glam rock star in 1970s Britain who subsequently fakes his own death, and the journalist who tries to track him down 10 years later in the mid-1980s. All you need to know about the plot is that it is an unapologetic rip-off of the Ziggy Stardust/David Bowie story. The best things about this film are: 1) the fashion, 2) the Jack Fairy character (partly based on Brian Eno, I think), and 3) the Roxy Music, Brian Eno, and Steve Harley tunes. Unfortunately, the music written specially for the film is utter"ly "bad". ...what kind of a name is "Maxwell Demon"? A ridiculous one, if you ask me. Anyway, as a fan who got turned on to Bowie, Roxy Music, Kraftwerk, Japan, and the whole glam-punk-goth-New Romantic movement as a young teen circa 1984, I had hoped for something a lot better. Sadly, it was not meant to be. This film fails to deliver in a major way.
Rating: Summary: AMAZING Review: this is one the best most unique films i have ever seen. the music in the film is incredible, you will love it! this is an electrifying over the top film starring ewan mcgregor of trainspotting and jonathon rys meyers as ( maxwell demon) who does a fantastic job playing who i think is suppoused to be david bowie. its right on the money with bowie/rys meyers clothes, hair , actions , singing , dancing- he does an amazing job of portaying him and the 70s ( glam era ).your taken back to the 70s glam rock era and shown all sides of maxwell demons life. it also has the reporter christian bale from ( american psycho) who does a excellent job as the fan/reporter who trys to discover who maxwell demon really is! this film grows on you and you will want to watch it over and over again and you will love the songs!i definetly recomend this to anyone who loves good music and likes a meaningful film.BUY THIS TODAY!
Rating: Summary: Great Movie Review: If you loved Hedwig and the Angry Inch you'll love this movie. The music, the clothes a total package!
Rating: Summary: this movie is an angry "spin" on the real story Review: "Brian Slade" is the villain of the film. He is, of course, the Bowie composite. The viewer is meant to dislike him very much. The real Bowie wasn't involved with, nor did he let his music be used in the film. Although he was the genius of glam (as songwriter, producer, visionary and the man who musically wrote then closed the book on it) there has always been a kind of a backlash jealousy about his supernova status such that Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Brian Eno have all acknowledged it. The movie is something of a vendetta. Hedwig and the Angry Inch or Moulin Rouge are much better glam films.
Rating: Summary: I give it 2 stars, 1 for subject matter and 1 for effort Review: Those who actually grew up during the original glam peak and followed it closely, generally don't like this movie. I give it a positive review for content and effort, but the movie is deeply flawed . Any attempt at bringing a sense of what it was like during the reign of Iggy, Reed, Bowie, Mott, Roxy, Eno, etc. deserves at least one star for subject matter. The movie's flaw is primarily it's heavy handed anger toward David Bowie for not participating in this "glam fantasy". Bowie wisely sidestepped this film. It may come as a surprise to some, but just as the Beatles terrific music was the catalyst for what made their accompanying cultural impact possible; so, too, was the brilliant music of those mentioned above (particularly Bowie)that which made "glam" possible- not the other way around. I remember it well. Many who thought the music was the best they'd ever heard, completely turned off to visual/cultural subtext.
Rating: Summary: Even if it's not your cup of tea, SIMPLY STUNNING! Review: WELL, HELLO TODD HAYNES!! I will not waste time rehashing the plot. I would agree with anyone who called this fiasco self-indulgent or whatever, but I cannot sit here and deny the sheer beauty, fun, inspiration, just friggen brilliance of it!! Like glam rock, it has an infectiously sad & mysterious tone to it. If there ever could be a cult classic that is worthy of watching repeatedly (BY YOURSELF!! Most importantly!! A movie that is magical enough to hold up on repeated solo viewings), THIS IS IT, PEOPLE! It is so entertaining that is ridiculously addictive to watch. Who ever thought of resurrecting the glam rock era in the late 90s just out of the blue? Well, this man Todd Haynes has miraculously done it and has made it so cool you want to kill yourself after watching it. As silly as detractors may think it sounds, this movie has incredible emotional, intelllectual, and historical depth, so much so that it virtually creates its own complex world into which I have fantasized many a night. Besides, when I saw this movie, I looked upon it as mindblowingly groundbreaking. Never before and haven't since seen a movie as brilliant in entertainment as this movie...
Rating: Summary: Excellent low budgie on the Glam Rock Scene Review: First of all this IS a Todd Haynes film. He is well known for pushing films to the riskier, and in this case risque, side. You will find excellent performances by the star talent that took on this low budget project produced by extremely talented Christine Vachon (Boy's Don't Cry, exceptional BTW.) Haynes pushes the boundaries on the formula story line while conveying a compelling and disjointed look at the Glam rock era. This is a work of fiction clothed in rock-umentary style so expect a surprising and marvelous push on form, substance and allegory. The Glam rock era was filled with bi-sexuality (real or as a publicity stunt), drug influenced, and competitive and aggressive visual and musical taboo breaking. It's not your hollywood formula happy-ending feel good film of the year and you can see it was never meant to be. If you want that rent or buy Stuart Little or Rock Star. If you lived through the glam rock era, attened the concerts, and tried to follow the secretive and morality-bending lives of the Glam Stars, as I did, you'll be more than presently surprised at Haynes take on it. It is a film that manages to involve the senses and the mind, and draws you into this most tumultous period of rock. It trips through time with pointed intent, so relax and go with it, Oscar Wilde references and all (a wonderful allegory using a brooch to symbolize the multi-generational passing of taboo breaking behavior.) This psychologoically disparate period is faithfully reproduced with stellar performances. Vachon and Haynes manage to squeeze the greatest costuming out of their budget and push the actors to wonderfully raw, powerful performances that commit to celluloid the nearly schizophrenic world of Glam. Glam rockers were tabloid staples of the era, and to me, it seems Haynes has used this as a form for the film. Forget J-Lo, Britney and the rest of the overly consumerized rock stars. This film is about Glams wonder, breakneck pace, trashiness and the desire to push limits. The psychological characterizations are dead on. Glam was all about breaking the rules, shocking the masses, scaring ...the rock business world and pushing the wonderful, wonderful music to the next level. I wouldn't change a thing. This DVD is a must have for Glam fans. Get it before it goes out of print.
Rating: Summary: Goldmine Review: To be honest, I thought VELVET GOLDMINE was one of the strangest movies I've ever seen..that being said, I really liked it. Its a great rock and roll movie, especially if you are/were into glam rock. The acting is wonderful. Anything with Ewan McGregor is usually worth it.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful, Lyrical, Fascinating, Glam Movie Review: I absolutely loved this movie from the first time I watched it late one night strictly by accident. The acting is superb by all of the main characters with McGregor really shining in his wonderful punk role of Curt Wild. This guy really proved what a talented performer he truly is. John Rys Meyers who plays Brian Slade was quite delicious to watch and I'm a straight female...I must say the scene where Slade and Wild are on stage together for the first time and the guitar scene was quite a turnon. Of course, I'm a huge Christian Bale fan and he was wonderful as well as the reporter investigating the disappearnce of our rock icon Slade 10 years after a fake murder was staged. The flashbacks to his youth were well done and inciteful into his character. Jack Fairy was a great character that added a bit of mystery and a true image of glam days. Eddy Izzard, what can you say, the guy is fantastic. I loved this movie for it's glitz and glamour, for it's quirkiness and campiness but mostly for the FANTASTIC music and acting. CRANK IT UP and enjoy!!
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