“Meaning is not in things, but in between them.” – Norman Brown
One wouldn’t expect a film that is a closer-to-real-life-than-it probably-should-be examination of the 70’s glam rock scene to begin with an alien baby, who turns out to be Oscar Wilde, being dropped off in mid 1800’s Dublin, but that’s exactly what you’re going to get with Velvet Goldmine. Honestly, if director Todd Haynes can create a biography of Karen Carpenter using only Barbie dolls, then should we really be surprised by a Lord of the Rings style voice over narration?
Velvet Goldmine is the story of journalist Arthur Stuart, a seemingly straight laced guy played by Christian Bale as he tries to sort out the story of Brian Spade, a rocker who faked his own assassination on stage much to the chagrin of his fans. In the decade since Spade, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, became persona non-grata and disappeared, not just from the music scene, but the world. Stuart’s bosses want him to figure out why.
Much can be said about this incredibly literate film. Much of the dialogue comes from the work of Wilde, who’s thoughts on celebrity and decorate every character we meet, whether it be the Bowie-like chameleon Space, who’s alter-ego Maxwell Demon is sure to spark some comparisons to Ziggy Stardust and those beloved Spiders From Mars, or Ewan McGregor’s Curt Wild, who sadly drew comparisons to Kurt Cobain upon initial release instead of the more appropriate Iggy Pop. Each character takes turns encouraging and inspiring the art, and love, of the other, and this film doesn’t shy away from the rumored sexual trysts between their real life counterparts and I found myself wanting to go down every rabbit hole.
While there is much joy to be found in watching Meyers and McGregor inhabit the personas of rock and roll icons, the film finds its heart in the work of Bale. His character has long struggled with his sexuality, from his initial rejection from his father, to his later exploration with another glam band who bears some resemblance to Lou Reed. It’s his pain, hopefulness, and searching that grounds the film when it’s ready to take off into space like Major Tom. As he interviews those who knew Spade best, such as his ex-wife (Toni Collette) and ex-manager/lover Cecil (Michael Feast), he learns that with genius often comes destruction and damage, and sometimes the only way to handle what you’ve brought forth is to run away from it in order to save yourself. Not necessarily the easiest message to sell to a mainstream audience, but when it’s accompanied by excellent music (the soundtrack is wonderful) it’s a little easier to swallow that particular pill.
Velvet Goldmine is stylish, full of excess, and not afraid to explode through societal boundaries as a means of self-discovery. We might not all be familiar with the inner workings of a David Bowie-like mind, but we know what it’s like to search for something and how it can all seem larger than life.
Rated 4 out of 5 Stars
