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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

Critic Reviews for Velvet Goldmine

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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