Velvet Goldmine

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J R Velvet Goldmine struts onto the screen dripping in glitter, eyeliner, and swagger — but beneath the dazzling facade, it’s a film still searching for its soul. Unlike its spiritual cousins Once, The Commitments, and Breakfast on Pluto — all of which earned their place with coherent storytelling, emotional heft, and unforgettable music — Velvet Goldmine spends too much time looking in the mirror. A film has to pay its rent, and while the others delivered on their promise, this one was in arrears. Visually stunning but narratively homeless, it’s a kaleidoscope of beautiful moments that never quite become a home you want to live in. And let’s talk about the music. While there are flashes of glam brilliance — a dash of T. Rex here, a whisper of Bryan Ferry there — the soundtrack leans heavily on pastiche and budget-friendly compromises. Bowie’s refusal to license his music casts a long shadow, and many of the stand-in tracks feel like imitations rather than homage. “I Wanna Feel It” is a prime example: a bland, forgettable tune elevated to anthem status by a crowd that reacts with religious fervour, betraying any sense of authenticity. It's hard to be moved when the music itself feels manufactured. A film about music needs to make you feel something — this just made me reach for the originals. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/19/25 Full Review Alec B A biopic that's both fake and real (which allows for several "Citizen Kane" references) with a number of earth shattering performances. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review PridePosterStudios “During the Festival sequence where Brian sees Curt perform for the first time, Ewan McGregor was only due to moon the disgruntled crowd. But inspired by the antics of Iggy Pop, he improvised, and ended up gesticulating wildly while flashing the audience, leaping about with his trousers around his ankles.” Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review Zuzka H Nice memory of glamrock, Bowie and others, but Christian Bale was so boring there. This character was inconsequential in this film. Ewan was given little space and I think that this theme could have been worked on more. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Shioka O Good or bad, it's like a 2 hour hallucinate music video. It's a nostalgia of glam rock in 70s, but now watched in 2022, it appears like a pure 90s film with those talented actors from UK. Directed in the Citizen Kane style. It's not a bio, the main character is fictional, a mixture of the iconic figures of that era, and I kinda feel cheated to hear those iconic songs played at once. (and no Bowie) BTW, the director made a documentary about Velvet Underground in 2021. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/11/22 Full Review Bah B Where have I been? This film is a gem! I love the sociological insights of the story. I love its amazing casts. Jonathan Rhys, Ewan Mcgregor, Christian Bale really gave very beautiful, raw and soulful performance in this vivid film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/21/22 Full Review Read all reviews

Velvet Goldmine

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