Rent Velvet Goldmine (1998)

Rise & Fall Of A Rock Star Story - Velvet Goldmine review by GI

Clearly influenced by, if not based on, the early career of David Bowie this ode to 'Glam Rock' is littered with Bowie references not least the title which is also the title of a Bowie song. Essentially this is a rise and fall of a megastar narrative with the price of fame the theme that runs through as it recreates the strange days of the early 70s as flower power and hippies gave way to the glitter and glamour of a new music genre where sexuality was the driver for difference. The story here follows a journalist, Arthur (Christian Bale) who in 1984 is given an assignment to track down Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an enormously successful rock star who faked his own death on stage and was ridiculed for it subsequently disappearing into obscurity. The hunt for Slade takes Arthur back to his own connections with the world of glamrock and the leading lights of the day. The story of Brian is told in a series of flashbacks especially his rise to fame under the tutelage of his money oriented manager (Eddie Izzard) and his friendship with American singer Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), a character based on a hybrid of Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain. Like many films in this genre it deals with the depravity brought on by unlicensed freedom with drink, drugs and sexual excess leading to inevitable self destruction. The film certainly captures the visually spectacular and theatrical elements of the time and boasts Toni Collette as Brian's American wife. This is definitely a film to check out if you've not seen it.