Written & Directed By: Todd Haynes
Story By: Todd Haynes & James Lyons
Cinematography: Maryse Alberti
Editor:James Lyons
Cast: Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Myers, Toni Collette, Eddie Izzard, Emily Woof, Michael Feast
1971: Glamrock explodes all over the world and challenges the seriousness within the flower power generation by means of glitter and brutal music. Brian Slade, a young rock star, inspires numerous teenage boys and girls to paint their nails and explore their own sexuality. In the end Slade destroys himself. Unable to escape the character role of "Maxwell Demon" that he created, he plots his own murder. When fans discover the murder is not real, his star falls abruptly and he is quickly forgotten about. 1984: Arthur, a journalist working for a New York newspaper, gets assigned the tenth anniversary story about the fake murder of Brian Slade. When Arthur was young and growing up in Manchester, he was more than a fan of Slade. Reluctantly he accepts the assignment and starts to investigate what happened to his old glamrock hero.
Over the years after getting a deeper understanding and learning galore about the time period so ally and historically. I think this film has a deeper meaning to me.
Rather then Being a revisionist history based in larger then life real people And trying to dramatize it or make up rumors and heresy whole Connecting the dots of sorts. So much it is more a product of creativity and your own storytelling. While the audience tries to read into it. Though what the film accomplishes it to try and define and create it’s own parallel world and culture to that of London and rock music from the 60’ – 80’s and makes a strong original film built off of rumors and urban legends.
It is one of the first films that introduced me to seeing graphic depictions of homosexuality this and scene from a class struggle in Beverly Hills were my consciousness eye openers. That introduced me and made me comfortable watching it on the big screen.
Though the film itself is experimental Playing with many styles. It stays In Todd Haynes canon of making films about time periods usually of the past and recreating them impressively. This is the least polished of his films it Seems, but the one that I like the most. It might be as this film wasn't my introduction to his films.
It was actually the second film of his that i had seen. It seems his most mainstream as far as Material though not his most popular.
It might be due to the framing that seems inspired by CITIZEN KANE while Also try to almost be a history of not only Glam but the inspirations of the musical artist at the heart of it's Tale.
In The film can applaud as it seems to go for epic and iconic status and size even on a modest budget. It's Opening is strong and energetic. Though while the film goes along it becomes fragmented as we slowly learn about our protagonist as much as we do the person he is researching. That leads the film a bit lost as you are looking for it to all Come together. Especially when it goes to jack fairy and this jewel. That seems far fetched but looking at the tomes can see how it fits in.
The song performances in the film go on for a while. Which one can understand helps the actors get more into character and see what it is like, but unless ready for it and really enjoying the songs. It can seem More pretentious as it is half the time, giving the audience more of an impression of performances we ha e seen or heard about based on the roles they are supposed to be playing.
Don't get me wrong the soundtrack is excellent even the reproductions of known not songs on the soundtrack. Which is truthfully what has always kept this film On my mind over the years as when I first watched it when it came out one thought it was an inspired noble failure. I still don't think it is a great film, but I enjoy it and think higher of it after all these years then i did when i first watched it.
As I believe I thought it would be entree and expected it to follow a little closer to be more of an expose. Dealing more with the rock star life and behind the scenes rather then the way the film is. I was very excited to see this film when it came out.
The film is told by different characters in the legends life to find out what happened to him and lead to his disappearance. We see these stories via flashbacks (ala CITIZEN KANE) the reporter assigned to write the story about his disappearance and Denise is played by Christian Bale. Whose character idolized him growing up and has a bit of a brief history with him himself.
This is also a film that is not afraid to show same sex sex scenes graphically and explicitly. This was one of the first films I actually saw that unabashedly showed this kind of footage and bravely.
There is plenty to be impressed by in this film. The costumes, art direction, performances (mostly) and of course the soundtrack which is mostly covers and classic cuts, but the story is a little far reaching and tired in it's completion. Especially when you get to the mysticism of Oscar Wilde and a character named Jack fairy. Who seems to be a supernatural godfather running around bequeathing fame onto acolytes that are seen fit to earn it. Even if his characters importance, nor appearance is ever properly explained to us.
Another problem is the musical performances. While impressive they are full performances. Meaning they perform the whole song thoroughly. Which would work as a full musical with dance. Though these are more concert performances which are fine, but not exactly what the audience might have signed up for. They also tend to go on for too long. They don’t add too much for the story but give the audience an understanding of the audience watching them live and their amazement. While also helping the actors to a degree get more into character. Though makes it feel at time lie we are watching a concert film as much of the running time is taken up by this.
The actors for the most part do their own singing Ewan McGregor is fine by Jonathan Rhys Myers is bad. Which is probably why his vocals are dubbed on the official soundtrack. They use a professional singer.
Jonathan Rhys Myers has the look, but seems to not have the weight for the demands of the role in the film. He's not a bad actor just maybe at this point wasn't ready to take on such a heavy leading role.
This film is a very sexually Frank film. That has many sexual tinged scenes. Here they are more homosexual in nature in not only sex but also the couplings. As you watch it at towns with no rhyme or reason it just jumps out at you. It’s not the first time I have scenes of that nature in film. So while it catches you off guard, it's not as shocking as one would expect.
One of the best scenes of the film is Christian Bale's character as a teenager coming home with the new Brian Slade album. Listening to the album for the first time and looking at the packaging and the liner notes. So far there has never been a scene in a film that has defined idolization, fandom and the seduction of music so thoroughly in my life.
While I love the soundtrack to the movie and the many artists it opened me up to in researching the songs. I only can say that I like the movie. I wouldn't add it to my collection, but would definitely recommend the film to others. In the end it just feels like a letdown. A film filled with lost opportunities. That while it is a big step forward for the director Todd Haynes. It feels Compromised by not having the full permission of the parties involved. Not for lack of trying so that it is filled with some gossip and tries to fill in the blanks. While adding some themes of it's own.
Which is why it seems we spend so much time with bale's character. We get to know him and watch him person more and more truth about his idols. That takes the shine off of them, but also reminds him that they are human and at their best what they provide and inspire for the fans and people. Even if their personal loves are a mess and nothing to really look up to. The fact that they can make his art and are human after all should be an inspiration to the human spirit. After all it seems we all can, but only some do it well.
I remember seeing the preview of this movie and being ecstatic to see it in theaters. I was expecting a more technical film from the way it seems styled and presented. I had never seen a Todd Haynes film but heard nothing but good things.
So when I actually saw it I was in for a shock. It was styled in a way but seemed to be a more naturalistic film. That made something organic out of the story it was presenting. Which was essentially a love story centered around fame. That takes you through all the aspects fascination, crush, introduction, first encounters, romance and finally consummation and the fall out from it.
Essentially it seems to be based on the legend and rumors centered around David Bowie and Iggy Pop but fabricated and engineered just enough so there could be no lawsuits. Which leads to it’s seeming trying to reinvent things for it’s own purposes. Where half the songs are modern updates in classic songs of that era.
This is a film that tries to do so much, but most of all find it’s way into the viewers heart. Trying to make us remember our connection and search for identity through others words and images
Grade: B-
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