Velvet Goldmine

1998

Velvet Goldmine

Critics Consensus

Velvet Goldmine takes a visual and narrative approach befitting its larger-than-life subject, although it's still disappointingly less than the sum of its parts.

57%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 44

80%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 40,029
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Movie Info

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, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (for strong sexual content, nudity, language and drug use)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Musical & Performing Arts
  • Directed By:
    Todd Haynes
  • Written By:
    Todd Haynes
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Miramax

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Cast

Ewan McGregor
as Curt Wild
Christian Bale
as Arthur Stuart
Toni Collette
as Mandy Slade
Eddie Izzard
as Jerry Divine
Emily Woof
as Shannon
Michael Feast
as Cecil
Janet McTeer
as Female Narrator
Marald McKinley
as Wilde Housemaid
Luke Morgan Oliver
as Oscar Wilde (age 8)
Osheen Jones
as Jack Fairy (age 7)
Micko Westmoreland
as Jack Fairy
Damian Suchet
as BBC Reporter
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
as Brian Slade
Danny Nutt
as Kissing Sailor
Wash Westmoreland
as Young Man
Don Fellows
as Lou
Ganiat Kasumu
as Mary
Ray Shell
as Murray
Alastair Cumming
as Tommy Stone
Zoe Boyce
as Girl on the Subway
Jim Whelan
as Mr. Stuart
Sylvia Grant
as Mrs. Stuart
Tim Hans
as Manchester Teacher
Ryan Pope
as Arthur's Teacher
Stuart Callaghan
as Boy in Record Shop 1
James Francis
as Boy in Record Shop 2
Callum Hamilton
as Brian Slade (age 7)
Lindsay Kemp
as Pantomime Dame
Carlos Miranda
as Pianist
Emma Handy
as Mod Girlfriend
Matthew Glamour
as Mimosa
Daniel Adams
as Curt Wild (age 13)
Brian Torfeh
as Bartender
Joe Beattie
as Cooper
Sarah Cawood
as Angel
David Hoyle
as Freddi
Winston Austin
as Micky
Ivan Cartwright
as Cecil's Friend 1
Peter King
as Cecil's Friend 2
Justin Salinger
as Rodney
Roger Alborough
as Middle Age Man
Peter Bradley Jr.
as 30's Style Singer
Jonathan Cullen
as Reporter 1
William Key
as Reporter 2
Vincent Marzello
as US Reporter 1
Corey Skaggs
as US Reporter 2
Nathan Osgood
as US Reporter 3
Nadia Williams
as Teenage Girl
Brian Molko
as Malcolm
Anthony Langdon
as Ray
Xavior Barquet
as Pearl
Steve Hewitt
as Billy
Guy Leverton
as Trevor
Vinney Reck
as Reg
Keith-Lee Castle
as Harley
Alan Fordham
as Bass Guitar
Jono McGrath
as Lead Guitar
Clayton Perry
as Drummer
Donna Jean Matthews
as Polly Small
Ritz
as Lead Guitar
Stefan Olsday
as Bass Guitar
Trevor Sharpe
as Drummer
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News & Interviews for Velvet Goldmine

"Blade" Writer to Focus on the "Thor" Movie
Rhys-Myers and Monaghan Sign up for "MI: 3"
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Critic Reviews for Velvet Goldmine

All Critics (44) | Top Critics (7)

View All Critic Reviews (44)

Audience Reviews for Velvet Goldmine

  • Dec 24, 2012
    A passable if not perfect depiction of the glam rock era. David Bowie deserves a better recollection of his past.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 10, 2012
    A reporter investigates the life and legend of a glam rocker who faked his death years ago. Todd Haynes's distinct style of flashy costumes and gay sexuality is on full display in this film. The musical numbers blend in, and the film seems like a chronicle of a sexually free bygone era, one that the director delights in. However, what's left behind is the story. The mystery of Brian Slade's "death" and disappearance takes a back seat to Haynes's love letter to the time, and no compelling dramatic questions emerge. Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Christian Bale all fully commit to their roles' demands, and Haynes's skill with actors reminds me of Oliver Stone's: these are directors who get stars to do things that stars don't normally do. Overall, I think Velvet Goldmine is a for a niche audience, like most of Haynes's work, and one who is invested in the time and the feeling of the time can find things to like, but for those of us looking for a compelling narrative, Velvet Goldmine doesn't have much to offer. Evan McGregor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Dec 28, 2011
    Brian Slade: Man is least himself when he talks in his own person... Give him a mask and he'll tell you the truth.  "The Rise Of A Star... The Fall Of A Legend." I strongly dislike Velvet Goldmine to the point where it was hard for me to get through the whole thing. I had to fight the urge to turn it off about five or six times. The film has a lot of style, but absolutely no substance. It's a two hour film, with little more than fancy clothes, makeup, and endless concert scenes. There's very little actually here. If it had been 20 to 30 minutes shorter, it would have been tolerable. At the length it runs, it is just a complete mess and a waste of time. Style over substance can work in little doses, but not for two straight hours. I'm not even going to go into plot other than that it is about a glam rock star who fakes his own death. There's many themes that are touched on, but never explored to make the movie more than what it is. Homosexuality, drug abuse, and even the fake death are all themes, but they never realized for what they are. This is supposed to be a look behind what we see in a rock star, but it never really cares to go deep into the psyche or personality of its star Brian Slade. Velvet Goldmine turns out to be nothing more than a stylistic mess, with little to no redeeming value. The three performances from great actors like Jonathan Rhys Myers, Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale aren't enough to save this disaster. I really thought I would like it, but the interesting premise is completely wasted. 
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 04, 2010
    Jonathan Rhys Meyers leads a talented group of actors in this fantastic glam rock spectacle. Everything about this film set primarily in the 70s is decadent, and over the top: the music, the clothing, the sexual freedom, the drug abuse, and all the excesses of life. Toni Collete, Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale were all fabulous, but this film belongs to Meyers. He was the epitomy of the overindulgent rock star. And the soundtrack to this film is brilliant.
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
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