The "Citizen Kane" of Glam Rock Era

Rating: Null/10 (26 July 2006)

"Velvet Goldmine" is director Todd Haynes ("Far from Heaven") overwhelming portrayal of the 70s.
In 1984, Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) is a young journalist trying to unfold the truth about the killing of rock idol Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), ten years previous, at the peak of his career, when Stuart was a shy, repressed teenager meeting rock'n'roll. We're introduced to some bizarre yet compelling characters, such as Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), sort of a Kurt Cobain predecessor (okay, comparisons are inevitable and often wrongful), and Mandy (Toni Collette), Slade's scatter-brained wife, as the movie flashes back to tell Arthur's youth during that shiny period (David Bowie, Iggy Pop - anyone?) known as Glam Rock Era, then fasts forward ten years after ALL THAT PARTY.
"Velvet Goldmine" is a very original piece of movie-making, with an outstanding soundtrack that includes almost all the greatest songs from that decade. It is no hype at all to say this is the "Citizen Kane" of Glam Rock Era. The cast is smashing: McGregor in one of his most barefaced performances (one year later, he went to the "Dark Side" with "Star Wars: Episode I", but Ewan never abandoned indie cinema and has become one of the best actors of the past years); Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (a rising star especially after "Match Point" and "Elvis", the latter which earned him a Golden Globe this year), and Collette, one year before taking the part of Haley Joel Osment's mother in "The 6th Sense" (and getting a coveted Oscar nomination for best supporting actress). But this is Christian Bale's film after all. Although he has less screen time than I wished, he's the heart and soul of "Velvet Goldmine", as a sensitive man who was brought to life during those exciting years. This actor has proved he can do anything - an American psycho, an insomniac machinist or even Batman; Bale is one of the most underrated actors of our time, and "Velvet Goldmine" is one of his finest moments.
A film to be seen - and listened to - at the highest volume level (for those who, like me, weren't born by that time, this is a great way of experiencing it). My vote is 10 out of 10.
P.S.: Todd Haynes is currently making "I'm Not There" about Bob Dylan, with Heath Ledger, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, Richard Gere, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Bale, again. I'm looking forward to this!