Velvet Goldmine (1998)
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A journalist's investigation into a vanished glam rock icon unearths a dazzling, non-linear tapestry of 1970s musical excess and personal tragedy.
The story
In 1984, British journalist Arthur Stuart is tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearance of Brian Slade, a 1970s glam rock icon who famously faked his own murder during a concert a decade prior. As Arthur conducts interviews with Slade's former manager, his ex-wife, and other associates, the narrative unfolds through a series of evocative flashbacks. These vignettes reveal Slade's meteoric rise to stardom, his adoption of an androgynous persona, and his intense personal relationships. Amidst the investigation, Arthur finds himself reflecting on his own obsession with the glam rock scene during his youth in London.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1984, British journalist Arthur Stuart is assigned to write about Brian Slade, a glam rock star who faked his death in 1974. Through interviews with Slade's first manager Cecil and his ex-wife Mandy, the film reveals Slade's origins in Birmingham and his transformation into the androgynous 'Maxwell Demon' under manager Jerry Devine. The narrative explores Slade's affair with American rock star Curt Wild and his eventual withdrawal from public life. Simultaneously, Arthur recalls his own teenage obsession with Slade and Wild, including a sexual encounter with Wild. When his editor deems the story no longer of public interest, Arthur is reassigned to cover a conservative pop star, only to realize that the star, Tommy Stone, is actually Brian Slade in disguise. Arthur eventually confronts Stone and encounters Wild once more, who gives him a green brooch once owned by Oscar Wilde.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English; French
- Directors
- Todd Haynes
- Writers
- Todd Haynes · screenplay; James Lyons · story; Todd Haynes · story
- Cast and characters
- Ewan McGregor · Curt Wild; Jonathan Rhys Meyers · Brian Slade; Toni Collette · Mandy Slade; Christian Bale · Arthur Stuart; Eddie Izzard · Jerry Devine; Emily Woof · Shannon; Michael Feast · Cecil
- Genres
- musical drama; Glam rock; soundtrack
- Themes
- Identity; Artistic freedom; The influence of Oscar Wilde; The relationship between America and Britain
- Tone and mood
- Dazzlingly surreal; Melancholic; Carnal dream
- Premise and plot tags
- Non-linear narrative; Biographical fiction; Musical drama; Rock music film
- Source material / true-story basis
- Modeled on the narrative structure of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 65/100 score on Metacritic. It has become a cult classic with an obsessive following among younger audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100 · review count: 25
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Award · Best Costume Design · 1998 · Won; Academy Award · Best Costume Design · 1998 · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film's narrative structure is modeled on Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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