Search - Velvet Goldmine on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language, Substance Abuse Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 05/18/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 59 mins Studio: Miramax Members Wishing: 40 Genres: Drama, Period Film, Rock Musical

At the 1998 Cannes Film Festival, American independent director Todd Haynes (Safe) received the "Artistic Achievement" award for this re-creation of the UK glam rock scene of the early '70s. Glam rock star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who does a character named Maxwell Demon, predicts his own death onstage. As per his prediction, this happens, but when the killing is exposed as a hoax, it marks the end of Slade's stardom. A decade later, in 1984, Brit reporter and former Slade fan Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), who witnesses the hoax murder, gets the assignment to do a "Whatever Happened To..?" article, and the film's plot suddenly goes into a prismatic Citizen Kane mode, reflecting various angles on Slade's life and career. Arthur visits the wheelchair-bound Cecil (Michael Feast), who discovered Slade, and then tracks Slade through his early life and his initial encounter with outrageous, maniacal American singer Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor). Slade's rise begins as manager Jerry Divine (Brit comedian Eddie Izzard) moves in to take over the performer's career. Ex-wife Mandy Slade (Toni Collette), interviewed by Arthur in a dimly lit nightclub, has memories going back to their initial 1969 Sombrero Club encounter. Their marriage paralleled his Bowie-like ascent to fame as an innovative, bisexual rock star pushing the limits. Idolized by teens, Slade teamed up for a while with the drug-addicted Wild. Eventually, the marriage of Mandy and Slade comes to an end, and she hasn't seen him in seven years when she's interviewed by Arthur. The soundtrack features vintage music by Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed and Brian Eno, plus new tunes. Some background on the making of Velvet Goldmine is documented in producer Christine Vachon's book Shooting to Kill: How an Independent Producer Blasts Through the Barriers to Make Movies That Matter (Avon, 1998) by Vachon with Slate film critic David Edelstein. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Ewan McGregor - Curt Wild
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers - Brian Slade
Toni Collette - Mandy Slade
Christian Bale - Arthur Stuart
Eddie Izzard - Jerry Divine

Velvet Goldmine was either a rash misstep or a grand, glam world unto itself, or maybe a little bit of both, from controversial director Todd Haynes. This excellent DVD presentation of the movie serves up Haynes' vision in a technically superior fashion; the only missing elements are in the supplemental department. The 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is full of dramatic colors and bold visuals, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio is a similar treat for the ears. Many critics of the film suggested the soundtrack was the movie's greatest feat, and the songs of Brian Eno, T-Rex, and an all-star cover band (featuring Radiohead's Thom Yorke) sound spectacular here. A theatrical trailer is the only bonus feature to be found, and it's not even widescreen. The "Chapter Selection" menu allows instant access to the DVD's 30 chapters. It would have been nice if some sort of supplemental feature covered the music of the soundtrack, even if it was in the basic form of "Production Notes," but there's nothing like that in this DVD edition. All the same, =Velvet Goldmine is a flashy, baroque little movie that makes for an entertaining, musically superior ride. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide