Eyeful of Ewan, Thank you very much, Mr. BBC

Rating: 9/10 (11 September 2005)

The 70s glam rock movement in the UK hearalded an openly gay glitter lifestyle that rocked staid Brits. Todd Haynes ode to the era of glam is not a biopic of David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Instead, its the fictional story of Brian Slade (Johnathan Rhys-Myers) and Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor) who prance and vamp through hoards of groupies, hangers on, and entourages of press leaving devastation everywhere. Pretentious with attitude and posing de regeur for the era, these characters wallow in their shallowness.
Visual kudos for great eyemakeup for men and spandex for all. Sandy Powells outstanding designs were nominated for an Oscar for costumes. Ewan McGregor's randy performance au natural singing "T.V. Eye" is hot and one could easily see him turning from acting to a singing career if his voice were stronger. As an Iggy Pop-like character, McGregor inhabits Curt Wild with lust and sensuousness that makes him magnetic to watch and equally stunning in scene stealing duets with Rhys-Myers or Christian Bale.
Toni Collette, so heartwarming in Muriel's Wedding, is a sour, left in the dust wife, her ambition and desire for the limelight went only as far as her husband's need for a convenient beard. In the role of the singer's agent, Eddie Izzard, the fabulous executive transvestite comedian plays a straight in the film. This ode to sex, drugs, and platform shoes has several outstanding performances including Christian Bale as the reporter who investigates the WEHT faded rocker.
Goldmine is at times wistful yet never goes completely overboard, it is believable in its outlandish camp. The video or DVD is worth owning. I have both and the PAL-video special edition which contains minimal differences from the US and British released theatrical versions.
Reminder: to be played at maximum volume.