Velvet Goldmine
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Movie Reviews of Velvet Goldmine
Movie Review: Velvet Goldmine...Good movie...but gets lost in cheesiness
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok, now I'm a HUGE Ewan McGrego fan, but I didn't like this movie all that much. I'm only giving it 4 stars for the scene when Ewan's Character Curt Wild prances about butt naked lol The idea of the movie was good...but, I think it lacked real depth. Movie Review: the revelation is the director
Summary: 3 Stars
Christian Bale plays a journalist and one-time obsessive fan of 70s glam rock musician Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) who gets in touch again with his own passion for the artists (Curt Wild played lustfully with a luscious attitude by the ever-versatile Ewan McGregor) and artistry of the time as well as chronicling his own emergence from his youthful insecurities and the judgmental views of his parents. Brian Slade had been a star, and unable or unwilling to cope with being the focus of intense attention, fakes his own death and disappears into obscurity; Bale's character is sent to discover whatever happened to Slade. As Bale interviews various players and characters from Slade's past, like Slade's jilted ex-wife (played to perfection by the chameleonic and exquisite Toni Colette), he comes face to face with two things. One, this movement of androgynous, glam, hedonistic ritual had no substance. Bale also recognizes his own "maturity" and coming of age as the story parallels the rise and fall of Slade with Bale's character's own trials and small triumphs.
The true revelation here is the directing prowess and creative gift of Todd Haynes, whose visual and dramatic artistry is as varied as it is compelling. Haynes has delivered three stunning productions (that I have seen): Safe, with its very powerful lead character played by Julianne Moore; Far from Heaven (another Julianne Moore vehicle), and Velvet Goldmine. Haynes pushes the envelope without being showy or childish about it; he packs his films with controversy but couples it closely with humanity, and though Velvet Goldmine lacks a bit of humanity in order to give viewers more of the glam and gloss, it does so without being laborious.
Movie Review: The Glam Sham Revealed
Summary: 4 Stars
The Glam Rock movement was as much about shocking as it was anything else. In its way it took itself more seriously than any popular art form. The artists seemed to lie to themselves and each other with a pretense that nothing mattered, when the reality was that EVERYTHING mattered too much. The affected hairstyles, glitter, platform shoes, outrageous clothing, faux-bisexuality combined belied its phony "I don't care" attitude.
Todd Hayne's captures all of this brilliantly in Velvet Goldmine. He is ably aided by a cast who give startlingly nuanced performances and though each succeeds in bringing off the poseur hard-edge to their performances each character is afforded opportunity to also reveal a fragility that is the heart of their performance. Despite all the shock and "glam" we are watching people who are no more than children, unguided trying to make their way in a world technology, morals, where civilization itself was changing faster than anyone could keep up with. The center of the movie seems to be the observation of watching innocence shattered and failed attempts to recapture it and understand the confusion surrounding it.
Haynes understands music as well - or better - than any currently working director and "Goldmine" more than any of his other films almost feels as though it is following a symphonic form, repeating its motifs and driving home its confused, distraught yet ultimately hopeful message through its innocence. Visually as well as aurally - and every other way - Haynes scrupulous attention to detail pays off with a rewarding film that won't be to all likings, but is very nearly brilliant in every way.
The plot/storyline is often blurred and difficult to follow and once you can accept that this must have been an intentional element, said difficulty almost becomes the point where the actual story isn't as strong as the observation the film seems to be making.
The trio of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Ewan McGregor, and Toni Collete are nothing short of remarkable in capturing the jumbled, mass of confusion their characters are. Each tortured in their own way, each attempting to "live out loud" and each failing miserably. Likewise, Christian Bale is the perfect picture of confused dysfunction, searching and living in a world where the lines between dreaming and reality are further and further blurred to the point where it's impossible to tell the separation - if there is one - between the two. Amazing performances all the way around.
Movie Review: woo-hoo yummy
Summary: 5 Stars
haha, this movie was excellent! i mean, seriously, jonothan rhys-meyers in tight, sparkly unisuits AND ewan mcgregor in leather pants and no shirt, AND christian bale (need i say more about him to convince you?)...and then they are all lovers in some crazy intertwined love connection hotline gone wrong. the acting is AMAZING, some of the best that i've seen from jonothan rhys-meyers and ewan mcgregor (and ewan mcgregor is amazing in everything, so that's saying a lot). the plot line is great with the flashbacks, and the COSTUMES ARE WOWEE!!! just a note though, ALTHOUGH THIS MOVIE IS FABULOUS, DO NOT WATCH IT WITH YOUR PARENTS, they may get weirded out and have a need to supervise all other movie watching experiances of yours. i highly suggest this movie. and another note: EWAN MCGREGOR AND JONOTHAN RHYS-MEYERS SING MOST OF THEIR SONGS, which is awesome of them to do...they are very talented.Movie Review: All the Glitters...
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been interested in viewing this movie for a while now, mainly because of my love for Ewan Mcgregor, Christian Bale, and most of all Jonathan Rhys Meyers. About a week ago I purchased it, knowing that I would like it enough to watch it again. And let me tell you, I was right! Since buying this marvel, I've watched it 3 times, not including all the skipping I've done to watch my favorite parts.
I've also since purchased the soundtrack, which is excellent. Every song in the movie was well placed, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers singing the original track "Baby's on Fire" was a personal favorite. The plot progression during the song is enough reason to love it.
For those who don't like this movie, I think part of the problem is that they were expecting a David Bowie biography. This is nothing of the sort. In fact, I think it's best to watch this movie without thinking that Brian Slade IS Bowie and Curt Wilde IS Iggy Pop. No, this movie is so much more than a biography. It's a story about (If you'll excuse the Moulin Rouge reference) "Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love" (or lack there of, in some cases)
If nothing else, the acting in this movie was phenomenal. Ewan Mcgregor revels in his role as the genuine and strangly beautiful bi rocker, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers couldn't have portrayed Brian Slade better... his transformation from a provacative and intoxicating, yet sympathetic, character, to a cold shell of his former glory is almost hard to watch, as is the riff that grows between Slade and Wilde.
Christian Bale's part in this movie is larger than it appears, for it is his teenage experiences with glam rock that piece this masterpiece together. For this brand of storytelling, Arthur's character was essential. However, had it been told in a more... linear way, I think that Arthur would have been thrown out of the plot. I'm glad that he wasn't, though. Arthur's curious and innocent nature brings a sort of love and purity to the story and its characters that wouldn't have been there.
Buy this movie, watch it, love it.