a haunting film

Rating: 10/10 (9 November 2000)

In the early 70s I was a big fan of Bowie, Reed and Roxy Music. So when I heard about this film I was interested in seeing it. A few days ago I rented Velvet Goldmine and watched it. I thought it was quite good and entertaining and was very impressed by the performances of McGregor and Bale. Although the use of new songs in glam style annoyed me a bit, I loved that they did use many originals from the 70s by people like Brian Eno, Roxy Music, Mick Ronson and Lou Reed.
I found myself thinking of the film over and over later that day and eventually looking it up here and then on other places online. I woke up the next morning thinking about it, which is extremely unusual for me. Images from the film kept coming back to me all day and then I thought I'd look at those scenes again for a few minutes the next day..something I've never done before. So I put the tape in meaning to fast forward it, but I got caught up in those fabulous opening credits. Fast paced editing and action, colorful clothes on kids having fun and Eno's song really catch you up into the film (after that short but odd 'Wilde is from outer space' stuff). From there I found myself standing beside the TV watching the whole film again. And the second time I saw it I REALLY loved it! It was even better viewing it again. Although I found Rhys-Meyers quite cold and uninvolving, many of the other actors turned in great work. McGregor just threw himself into this part and electrified the screen. And Bale was believable as a 17 year old innocent boy and a jaded 27 year old man...which is a very difficult act to pull off credibly.
My favorite parts of the film were 1) the sequence from when Curt and Brian drink a toast in a fantasy press conference to when Brian's ex-wife Mandy tells the Arthur who she found in bed together. and 2) when Arthur meets Curt in a flashback at the 70s concert till the end of the film. I found that second part very emotionally moving to see when I watched the film a second time. And it was so sad to see the bright and hopeful world of the 70s become the bleak and drab world of the 80s when they showed the 'present time' vs the flashbacks throughout the movie.
I can't wait to see Velvet Goldmine again! Rarely do I ever buy videotapes, but this one I gotta own so I can watch it repeatedly.