Velvet Goldmine [DVD] [1998]

The music is fantastic with Rhys Meyers performing many of his songs (and he's a pretty good singer!) as well as a couple by Ewan, more recently known for his contribution to Moulin Rouge!'s music. Also present are a selection of other songs such as "Make Me Smile" and "20th Century Boy" (ah, we love Placebo!) fitting the era and atmosphere - though I wasn't even born then so perhaps I am less critical than someone who remembers Bowie's greatness!

I also loved the way the film was put together. The jolting touches of memory and somewhat irregular presentation as Arthur digs out the truth lead the viewer to conclusions and provide for an intriguing storyline (ripped straight out of Citizen Kane). The music videos are great to watch and revisit via the chapter selection and the documentary on the DVD is also pretty good although in my opinion was too much about the era and not enough about the film!

All in all, get this film if you're into slightly alternative cinema, glam rock or just gay issues :) There are some wonderful lines from Brian on bisexuality but you'll have to wait and see them for yourself :)

I'm far too young to remember glam in all its glory, but this film makes me want to travel back in time and share in a bit of the glitterlove.

The cast is excellent. Jonathan Rhys Meyers glitters prettily as Brian, Ewan McGregor rocks as Curt (who 'goes bonkers every time he hears an electric guitar), Christian Bale is so real and tangible as Arthur (the glitterfan exploring his sexuality), and Toni Collette sparkles as the wonderful Mandy (glittering wife of the star).

Placebo also star as The Flaming Creatures, and any Placebo fan should watch this film for Brian Molko alone.

Achingly angsty, touchingly romantic, sufficiently twisted, and unashamed of exploring and exploiting sexuality, this film simply sparkles.

Only to be watched if you're prepared to get into the spirit of things and embrace the glitter. Most definately to be played at maximum volume.

The early 1970s is done brilliantly here, and is a wonderful nostalgia-fest for some of us. An age when everyone happily dressed like circus clowns, and hair straighteners and pallid complexions were unheard of. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who I think is a ridiculously under-rated actor, does a sublime performance as Slade, and Ewan McGregor gives a full-throttle turn as the tortured, heavy rocker, Curt Wild. Eddie Izzard is allowed, for once, to step away from his cross-dressing comedian persona, to play Slade's hard-nosed manager with great relish. Toni Collette is also superb as Slade's ex-wife, Mandy, used and cheated by Slade's celebrity bandwagon. The soundtrack is an absolute dream, and the whole early 1970s obsession with the Roaring Twenties and how it influenced the Glam Rock phenomenon is spot-on. Perhaps if you want a more realistic slant on 1970s celebrity you should try David Essex's "Stardust", (very bleak though that is at times), but this is good if you just want an OTT tribute to the era that style (allegedly) forgot.