by Yazmin Ghonaim

VELVET GOLDMINE Todd Haynes (1998) In his recent film, Velvet Goldmine (winner of the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival), filmmaker Todd Haynes explores the rise and fall of the fictional Glam rock star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Myers), focusing on Slade's encounters with the influential American rock star Curt Wilde (Ewan McGregor). Alluding to the structure of "Citizen Kane", the story in Velvet Goldmine stems from the death of its protagonist and follows the reporter (Arthur Stuart, played by Christian Bale) who, in search of information about the protagonist's life, collects the testimonies of those who knew him. What is revealed, however, is a very musical and very colorful depiction (literally) of the lifestyle (more so than the life) of the "Messiah of Rock" alongside or apart from those who admired, desired, and sought him. Hayne adds: "In many ways, the film is a valentine to [David] Bowie and to Roxy music, but it takes to heart the spirit of glam rock, which is not about telling the truth, but dressing it up". The film uses music by Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry, as well as new songs written for the film by musicians who, according to Executive Producer Michael Stipe (writer and lead singer of "REM"), "...were really inspired by glam and the whole era".		DVD Music Books Search by keywords:
Outstanding Features: Visual Imagery/Iconography, Music, Costume Design Velvet Goldmine Movie Review © 1998 Cinephiles - All rights reserved.