Cat.no: VCD 0012

Cert: 15

Running time: 118 minutes

Year: 1998

Pressing: 1999

Region(s): 2, PAL

Chapters: 21 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Widescreen: 1.85:1

16:9-enhanced: Yes

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: £19.99

Extras : Full Motion Menus, Scene index, Theatrical trailer, Teaser Trailer, Photo Gallery, Booklet,
Featurette ("Behind the Glam and the Glitter"),
DVD-ROM Printable Photo Library,

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Director:

Todd Haynes (Poison, Safe, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story)

Producer:

Christine Vachon (I Shot Andy Warhol, Kids, Poison, Safe)

Screenplay:

Todd Haynes

Music:

Carter Burwell (The Big Lebowski, Fargo)

Cast:

Curt Wild: Ewan McGregor (Blue Juice, Brassed Off, Emma, A Life Less Ordinary, The Pillow Book, Shallow Grave, Star Wars: Episode I, Trainspotting, TV: ER, Kavanagh Q.C., Lipstick On Your Collar)
Brian Slade: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (B Monkey, The Governess, Michael Collins, To Live On, The Tribe)
Mandy Slade: Toni Collette (Diana And Me, Emma, Muriel's Wedding, The Pallbearer)
Arthur Stuart: Christian Bale (Empire of the Sun, Henry V, Metroland, Portrait of a Lady, Swing Kids, Treasure Island)
Jerry Divine: Eddie Izzard (The Avengers, The Secret Agent, TV: Cows, Have I Got News For You)
Shannon: Emily Woof (The Full Monty, Photographing Fairies, The Woodlanders)
Cecil: Michael Feast (Brother Sun Sister Moon, The Draughtman's Contract, The Tribe, TV: Kavanagh Q.C., Paradise Club, Soldier Soldier, A Touch of Frost)
Angel: Sarah Cawood (TV: Singled Out (UK), The Girlie Show)
Malcolm: Brian Molko

Velvet Goldmine is a British film, one of many starring Ewan McGregor, which tells a tale from the era of glam rock in the 1970's in which the secret to becoming a star is knowing how to behave like one. After the false start beginning in the 19th century, as the film proper begins it is 1971 and the glam rock scene is just beginning. Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and American rock star Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor) feel they are ready to rule the roost and take on the world, but in 1974 Slade fakes his own death in a stunt which backfires and he disappears from view for good.

Ten years later, journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) sets out to find out what really happened interviewing his wife Mandy (Toni Collette), getting the low-down on his effervescent and cock-sure manager Jerry Divine (stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard) and the man who used to aid his career, Cecil (Michael Feast). Notable cameos in the cast include Sarah Cawood from Channel 4's The Girlie Show as one of Jerry's PR girls and Brian Molko as Malcolm from The Flaming Creatures, who is no stranger to pop music, being the lead singer of Placebo who came to the fore in February 1997 with the No.4 hit, Nancy Boy and another new set of songs eighteen months later when the striking Pure Morning hit the same chart position in August 1998.

The picture quality is mostly perfect on this disc with very few artifacts on view and even then these won't be particularly noticeable from the normal viewing distance. The film is presented in its original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1, the picture being 16:9-enhanced for widescreen televisions and it has a very good average bitrate of 7.51 Mb/s, regularly peaking at over 9Mb/s. The disc is also dual-layered.

The sound comes across fine but doesn't make you jump out of your seat. As the tone of the film would indicate you'll know what sort of music to expect but the music by Carter Burwell is nowhere near as memorable as his superb effort for Fargo. It comes in Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround formats depending on your equipment, but in typical VCI/Film Four fashion, the only language available is English.

Extras :

Chapters & Trailers :

Languages/Subtitles :

Featurette :

Photo Gallery and DVD-ROM content :

Booklet and Packaging :

Menu :

Clicking on the menu options is rather a hap-hazard affair but perseverance does have its rewards. All the menu screens are animated, usually in a subtle fashion except for the photo gallery and all contain music.

Overall, while this release has excellent presentation with a decent amount of extras, even though a director's commentary track wouldn't have gone amiss, it doesn't disguise the fact that the film just isn't very interesting.

Most of the cast look like they're whacked out of their heads on drugs or are suffering severe insomnia, while Eddie Izzard looks the same as he always does but with a dodgy 70's wig while he goes through his usual stylised performance. Even the usually reliable Ewan McGregor can't save the film since he starts off promising enough but spoils everything by leaping up and down on stage with his John Thomas flapping about in the breeze.

If you have seen this film before though and you enjoyed it then this release is worth a look, but for everyone else I'd advise you to rent it before buying. I've given the film a mere ½ out of five as I have a policy that no film can be as bad as Fellini's Satyricon which scored a great big zero in my book as it is the worst film I have ever seen, despite how many other films could've been a contender.

FILM                    : ½
PICTURE QUALITY         : ****
SOUND QUALITY           : ****
EXTRAS                  : ***½
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OVERALL                 : ***

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.