Rent Velvet Goldmine on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: James Lyons and Todd Haynes (story), Todd Haynes
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale, Toni Collette, Eddie Izzard
Rated: R
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Plot
In 1984, British journalist Arthur Stuart investigates the career of 1970s glam superstar Brian Slade who was heavily influenced in his early years by hard-living and rebellious American singer Curt Wild.
Verdict
What this is about depends on your perspective. Foremost it's a tribute to glam rock with an overarching plot about a rocker who disappeared from the public eye, but we approach that through a journalist who explores the story through his own memories of being a fan. Glam rock opened a door for people that felt like they didn't fit in to find allies, discovering they weren't alone as they believed. Whether it's about a rock star or the fans depends on your point of view, but the movie is book-ended with references to Oscar Wilde and the extra terrestrial. While I have mixed feelings about the movie, I really like the concept, liking the movie even more upon reflection.
Watch it.
Review
This not only presents late 1800s playwright Oscar Wilde as the precursor to glam rock, but that his origins or the origins of the glam rock movement are alien. Oscar Wilde wanted to be a pop idol. It's a wild opening, but it fits the flamboyance of the subject.
Journalist Arthur (Christian Bale) is tasked with writing a story about glam rocker Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who staged a hoax over a decade ago, leading people to believe he was killed at his concert. Is it something Slade concocted to escape the public eye or a dramatic stunt? Either way it ended his career but was that his intent all along? What's he been doing since?
The story forces Arthur to revisit his past and feelings. He was a Slade fan back when, embracing the flamboyance and culture, much to his parents' dismay. During the movie he examines how that culture has shaped his outlook. Arthur first interviews Slade's original manager. Slade was trying to figure out where he fit in rock music. Slade is different, not conforming to society's or music's expectations. His propensity for costumes was atypical. When Slade discovers Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), it opens the door to what kind of musician he wants to be. Wild has established a style that Slade admires. It helps refine his own stage persona.
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| Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ewan McGregor play Brian Slade, Curt Wild |
This movie is made up of vignettes as people recount their memories of Slade, but it's also interspersed with music videos of Slade's work. Overall, it's a love letter to glam rock; the style, the costumes, the tearing down of barriers. Arthur didn't fit in as a kid, and Slade's work made it permissible to be yourself. Arthur was denigrated for liking glam rock music and wanting to celebrate it by imitating the style. He found solidarity at Slade concerts with other fans. While initially it seems beyond belief that Athur is inextricably linked to all these concerts that were monumental for Slade, being a fan Arthur would have attended as many as possible. Though it is quite the coincidence that Arthur is the one covering the story.
Slade and Wild get more famous, but their fame leads to drugs and less work. Slade gets the chance to collaborate with Wild, but his excitement dissipates as Wild is nearly gone at that point. Success and fortune can corrupt.
Arthur eventually does manage to track Slade down, but Slade has no interest in revisiting the past. We can assume Arthur is a parallel to Slade. Arthur's past is a rebellion of youth, refusing to conform to expectations. As an adult he's abandoned the style, and now works as a journalist that fits into a corporate world. Similarly, Slade never gave up music but did change his identity and music to be more mainstream. You could see his Slade persona as his rebellion against the system. Just as Arthur looks back on his youth, reconciling his past and present, Slade must have some of the same thoughts.
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