If you like Bowie or Iggy, you'll hate this...

Rating: Null/10 (20 January 2003)

Velvet Goldmine is a perfectly good idea, and is essentially a loving homage to a bygone era, that of 70's glam rock. Christian Bale is fine as a journalist who on hearing disturbing news of his teen-era idol, has flashbacks telling the story of his immersion in the world of glam rock and the seventies music scene. Unfortunately this idol is a thinly disguised thumbnail sketch (you might even say parody) of David Bowie. The other main character is an equally pointless caricature of Iggy Pop. The story takes some elements of the story of their careers in the mid seventies and goes its merry way. This would be fine but for one major flaw: the music is not Bowie/Iggy. It is originally produced glam rock pastiche and is so awful the appeal of the era would be mystifying to someone unfamiliar with it. Who then would like this film? I have no idea. Todd Haynes must love Bowie, if not why make a film which is so transparently about him? Does he think his film shows 70's glam in a favourable light in any way? As a huge fan of both Bowie and Iggy pop, I think Velvet Goldmine is utterly appalling.