Velvet Goldmine
1998, Drama, 2h 3m
47 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Glam rock star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Myers) plays a character on stage named Maxwell Demon who predicts his death on stage. Shortly after he announces his prediction, he fakes his own death and is exposed as a fraud. A decade later in 1984, a reporter and former fan, Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), tracks down the former rocker to do an article on his life and downfall. Arthur interviews the man who discovered Slade and a peer (Ewan McGregor) to understand Slade's motivations.
Cast & Crew
Ewan McGregor
Curt Wild
Curt Wild
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Brian Slade
Brian Slade
Toni Collette
Mandy Slade
Mandy Slade
Christian Bale
Arthur Stuart
Arthur Stuart
Eddie Izzard
Jerry Devine
Jerry Devine
Emily Woof
Shannon
Shannon
News & Interviews for Velvet Goldmine
Critic Reviews for Velvet Goldmine
Audience Reviews for Velvet Goldmine
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Dec 24, 2012A passable if not perfect depiction of the glam rock era. David Bowie deserves a better recollection of his past.John B Super Reviewer
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Nov 10, 2012A 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 MeyersJim H Super Reviewer
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Dec 28, 2011Brian 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
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Sep 04, 2010Jonathan 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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