Velvet Goldmine (1998)

In 1984, British journalist Arthur Stuart investigates the career of 1970s glam superstar Brian Slade, who was heavily influenced in his early years by hard-living and rebellious American singer Curt Wild.

Director:

Todd Haynes

Writers:

James Lyons (story), Todd Haynes (story)

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ewan McGregor	...	Curt Wild
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Brian Slade
Christian Bale	...	Arthur Stuart
Toni Collette	...	Mandy Slade
Eddie Izzard	...	Jerry Devine
Emily Woof	...	Shannon
Michael Feast	...	Cecil
Janet McTeer	...	Female Narrator (voice)
Mairead McKinley	...	Wilde Housemaid (as Maraid McKinley)
Luke Morgan Oliver	...	Oscar Wilde (8)
Osheen Jones	...	Jack Fairy (7)
Micko Westmoreland	...	Jack Fairy
Damian Suchet	...	BBC Reporter
Danny Nutt	...	Kissing Sailor
Wash Westmoreland	...	Young Man

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

recovering drug addict | interview | homoeroticism | glitter | broach | 

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Taglines:

Leave your expectations at the door.

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (UK)

Also Known As:

Auksine praraja

Filming Locations:

Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£156,050 (United Kingdom), 25 October 1998, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$301,787, 8 November 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,053,788, 20 December 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Goldwyn Films, Killer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor sang their own songs in the movie. (Some of Rhys Meyers's songs were overdubbed by Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke.)

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Goofs

During the circus interview (1:05:14), a reporter asks "Is it your belief that all dandies are homosexual?" to which Brian Slade replies, "Nothing makes one so vain as being told one is a sinner." When the next day's newspaper is shown (1:07:42), Slade is quoted as saying "Nothing makes one so bold as being told one is a sinner."

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Quotes

Brian Slade: [meets Curt for first time at bar] I just wanted to say... I think your music is tops, really, smashing, the best of the lot.
Curt Wild: [Curt lifts head] Smashing, top hole, jolly f...
[Curt's head falls back and he passes out]

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

Tutti Frutti
Written by Little Richard (as Richard Penniman) and Dorothy La Bostrie
Performed by The Venus in Furs vocal by Callum Hamilton

User Reviews

Put The Blame On Wilde

It is quite an extraordinary experience to sit through this film years after its controversial outing back in the distant 1998. Like many of the great pieces of art, or wine for that matter, time gives it that extra something that evolves its taste into something that you crave. The erotic innocence of the story is very much Oscar Wilde territory. Innocence, yes. - I've been arguing about it with some people about the inclusion of the word, if not the feeling, innocence in this context. I insist the word is perfectly fitting because at the end of this rainbow there is the longing for love. Ewan McGregor's cock is already famous the world over - and with reason - here it dangles across his frame like a child, unaware of his own nakedness. Jonathan Rhys Mayer is a delight. Strange to see him in feathers after "Match Point" and yet it makes a lot of sense. Christian Bale one day, will leave behind the pouting arrogance that is rapidly becoming his trademark - even as Batman - and come back to the glorious promise he insinuated here. All in all a triumph, Todd Haynes style.