Beautiful to look at

Rating: Null/10 (26 July 2004)

I walked into this film a large Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Ewan M. and Christian Bale fan. Honestly, I would watch any of these three read from the phonebook. That said, I was very happy with the film.

Haynes is an artistic director trying to explore many of his own issues. He make this film so colorful and vivid, that you can't help but being drawn into the situation.
The music plays a large part in the film. I'm not into glam at all, but I found myself really feeling the music. Found it very cool that Ewan and Jonathan really sang for the film. Talented!
Bale's Arthur has such a naivete to him. He just wants to belong to something and relate to something. 10 years later, how ironic that Brian Slade is his newsstory. Always, Ewan brings himself fully into the role. It kind of freaked me out that he looked so much like Kurt Cobain, but I liked crazy, electrotherapy Kurt Wilde. I don't think I would have in a lesser actor's hands. The same goes for Brain Slade and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He really has to find the humanity in a character that is extremely fake and product. You see beyond the drugged out, self-absorbed rocker and instead see a boy who wants acceptance and love.
In this film, the acting and look of the picture kind of overshadow the message, but what you get is a beautiful film to look at.