Teen fantasy as art statement

Rating: Null/10 (21 June 1999)

The film contains: - A gay or bisexual reading of glam rock, of interest to anyone who likes this music; - A poorly argued case that rock stars are descended from Oscar Wilde; - An attempt to link the unknowability of rock stars to the enigma of Charles Foster Kane, by using the structure of Welles's film (Velvet Goldmine needs all the structure it can get); - A series of imaginary glam rock videos with glamorous stars and costumes, and music which sounds like it was done by a pub cover band; - A lot of truly awful linking material, with scenes that would not be tolerated in even an average soap opera.