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India Press Store - Velvet Goldmine
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List Price: $9.99
Our Price: $7.00
Your Save: $ 2.99 ( 30% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale, Toni Collette, Eddie Izzard
Directed By: Todd Haynes
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780788814150
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 078881415X
Label: Walt Disney Video
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Release Date: 2000-04-04
Running Time: 119
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-11-06
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: A film that truly glitters...
Comment: `Velvet Goldmine' is one of those films that has everything. It is pure entertainment. It's a solid mixture of `Almost Famous', `Cabaret' and yes, `Citizen Kane'. The film is brilliantly constructed; bringing the audience into the center of the story and never lets them go, holding their interest until the final frame is through.
The film is told through the eyes of reporter Arthur Stuart who is asked to investigate the life of Brian Slade years after his disappearance. Brian Slade was a famous glam-rocker who staged his own murder to gain publicity. Arthur attempts to contact those who were closest to Slade, namely his wife Mandy and countless other acquaintances, including the fearless fellow rocker Curt Wild. Through these interviews Arthur learns more about the man he had once idolized and had desired to be so much like.
Todd Haynes is a fantastic director, always able to bring the audience into the air or mood of his films. Much like he did with the fantastic `Far From Heaven', Haynes works to create a world of 80's glam-rock, with all its glitter and energy and in effect draws us into this world hook-line-and-sinker. Every part of the film, from the depiction of the rockers lifestyle to their on-stage antics is portrayed with reckless abandon, which further cements to way in which these men lived their lives.
The performances are flawless, from Jonathan Rhys-Meyers to Christian Bale, and everyone in between. Bale plays Arthur with wonderful restraint, showing the man's emotional journey and connection to this piece. As he uncovers his idols dark secrets his revelations are coupled with flashbacks from his youth to help show his growth. Rhys-Meyers is brilliant as Slade. He fully dives into this role and fleshes out the man's inner demons tragically. The film belongs to two other actors though, Ewan McGregor and Toni Collette, mostly Collette. As Wild, McGregor is utterly fearless, displaying the man's reckless actions with devotion and passion. Collette slips into the `tortured wife' role with a fresh sense of chemistry, adding layers to this woman that, if left aside, would have kept her character nothing more than arm-candy. Collette is one of my favorite working actresses, and this is my favorite performance she's given.
In the end I must say that `Velvet Goldmine' is much more that one may expect. It is a very smart piece of filmmaking, and one that I was not expecting to love as much as I did. It's an accurate portrayal of the rock world, kind of like the more popular `Almost Famous', just a different breed of rock and thus a different breed of accuracy. I highly recommend this film to any fan of the genre, the actors or the director since on all fronts this proves to be the best of its breed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Glitterati
Comment: I admit it: I'm a little OCD-like concerning Jonathan Rhys Meyers. I've been backtracking to many of his older films, and the more I see, the more I've come to respect his obvious talent, charisma and overall joie de'vivre with every role he tackles.
That being said, the first time I viewed VELVET GOLDMINE I felt as though I smoked peyote and dropped acid at the same time. It was just an acid washed trip down memory land (a memory lane that I wasn't familiar with, seeing as though I was a product of the 80s-90s Michael Jackson/Prince/Madonna phenomena). I really had to take several deep, cleansing breaths after finishing and question my sanity in purchasing the movie.
I decided to give it another shot a few days later (once the peyote/acid remnants *imagined* had worn off). 2nd time around, I fared much better, and really started to peel back the layers that Todd Haynes was trying to convey. Some quick observations:
Ewan M./Curt Wild-As much as I admire Ewan's boldness in going the "full Monty" route (again *sigh*), his best parts in this film are when he's at his most quiet; I love the look in the restaurant (looks like the Russian Tea Room in NYC) when he tells Brian "You could be my main man." One issue (and this isn't Ewan's fault) is his "look." Why is he a clean-cut Curt Cobain clone? If the production team were trying to *loosely* base Curt Wild on Iggy Pop, then the look should've been grungier and wilder (no pun intended) looking.
JRM/Brian Slade-Such an absolutely exquisite, gorgeous creature. His characterization of the virile, feline, effeminate glam-rockers is very, very eerie (one standout to me, is in the "Perfect and poisonous" montage when he's skipping/dancing in the street, and smooches the sailor-after they've kissed, he does a small twirl/hop that's so girlie, but believable). His vocals (which have gotten stronger over the years-check him out on the AUGUST RUSH soundtrack) are more than adequate, a pleasant surprise for someone unfamiliar with his work (his heartbreaking rendition of "Sebastian" gets me every time).
Toni Collette/Mandy Slade-I've really appreciated Toni's work since MURIEL'S WEDDING (she did a good job with a mess of a script in IN HER SHOES as well). She's so effervescent in the beginning of this rockin' time, but is so downtrodden and bitter by 1984. She does the role such justice.
Eddie Izzard/Jerry Devine-Playing a "suit" is a new one, but it really worked. Izzard's totally over-the-top (in a good way) as an ambitious (yet caring-sort of) manager. He goes for the gusto every time he steps in a scene.
I've watched the movie about 5 times since purchasing, and am planning on getting the soundtrack (to be played at maximum volume of course!) also. It's grown on me for sure. Give it a whirl. If you don't understand after the first time, let it marinate for a few days, then try again. 4-star effort.
Customer Rating:
Summary: thanks!
Comment: ordered this one with another and they both arrived very quickly- excellent condition- great service Thanks! :)
Customer Rating:
Summary: you stroke me like the rain
Comment: Ok so. Bowie threatened to sue. And this film isn't exactly the most faithful representation of glam rock. And, yes, the Iggy and Bowie characters are exaggerated a great deal. BUT. It's still a good film. Flaws to be sure. On first viewing one will find it quite incoherent. But on repeat viewing, most glam fans will dig it. Don't take this as a representation of how it actually was though... think of it as a highly dramaticized biopic of a composite Iggy Pop/David Bowie/Lou Reed/Brian Eno type guy. There's a lot of dudes makin out with other dudes. But I mean i guess the whole bi thing was a big part of the scene. Good film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worth The $$
Comment: Wow - I love this movie. It's one that I had always wanted to own, because I would catch it on cable or whatever every time I could.
Totally worth the money! :)
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Editorial Reviews:
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Starring Ewan McGregor (MOULIN ROUGE, TRAINSPOTTING) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (THE GOVERNESS, MICHAEL COLLINS) -- executive producer Michael Stipe of R.E.M. presents this electrifying journey through rock 'n' roll's most outrageous era! It's been 10 years since glam-rock superstar Brian Slade (Meyers) faked his own death and vanished from the spotlight. Now, it's the job of an investigative reporter, Arthur Stuart, to locate this living legend and uncover the truth behind his disappearance! Through the course of Stuart's investigation, you're taken for a wild, all-access guided tour back into a vibrant music scene ... for an uncompromising look at the flamboyance and excesses of its larger-than-life stars! Acclaimed by critics, VELVET GOLDMINE also earned an Award of Merit at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival!
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