VELVET GOLDMINE

The past year has seen a revival of 70s pop culture in the movies. Movies such as BOOGIE NIGHTS and STUDIO 54 have given the viewer an inside look at the pornographic movie and nightclub sub-cultures. Now, VELVET GOLDMINE tries to give an inside look at the “glam” (for glamorous) rock world, which featured the likes of David Bowie and Iggy Pop.

The early 70s saw pop culture reacting to the flower child movement of the 60s. This new movement, referred to as Modern-esque, rejected the flower children and their anti-materialism stance. The Moderns wanted the good things in life. For them, this meant lavish clothes, cars and houses. At the same time, the movement was about blurring the distinction between male and female, and androgyny was definitely “in.” For the Moderns, the music was no longer about a blue jean clad folk singer, but a band wearing fantastic costumes, with extensive use of sequins, fur and feathers.

Here lies the problem with VELVET GOLDMINE. If the movie had been about the actual music and its makers, it might have been an interesting examination of pop culture. Instead, it insists on focusing on the rise and fall of a fictional bisexual glam rock star named Brian Slade , played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The movie follows an English reporter in America, Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), 10 years after the fall of Brian Slade, in a quest for “Where is Slade now?” A follower of the movement himself, Arthur remembers Slade’s influence on his life as he interviews people close to Slade, including Slade’s former wife Mandy (Toni Collette). The viewer sees Slade dealing with his homosexual urges by rebelling against his parents and channeling his frustration into an increasing extravagant glam rock lifestyle.

As part of this growth into pop icon, Slade receives a boost when he sees a concert by an American rocker named Curt Wild, played by Ewan McGregor. McGregor’s character is dead set on pushing the limits of on-stage behavior, which includes a show performed entirely nude, where he escapes from a drug-induced haze. This performance gives Slade ideas about what might be possible on stage as he seeks to push the limits of acceptability.

Eventually, Brian meets up with Curt, and they begin a sexual and emotional relationship. Two lost soul mates, they stay together until Brian disappears after a publicity stunt goes wrong.

It is difficult to figure out what message the movie is trying to present. At times, it seems like it is about re-inventing oneself. At other times it is about the search for truth. And, at still other times, it is about pushing the limits. However, all of these semi-noble goals are undermined by self-destructive behaviors onscreen, resulting in distasteful entertainment. In the end, by treating its subject matter with much more reverence than it deserves, VELVET GOLDMINE is pretentiously ineffective in saying anything about glam rock or the people in and around it.