Velvet Goldmine
Synopsis
At the centre is Brian Slade. Turning mods and rockers on their heads, he takes the UK by storm, inspiring countless teenage boys and girls to paint their nails and explore their sexuality. Slade finally devours himself. Unable to escape the persona he has created, he stages a fake assassination. When his fans find out, his star falls into oblivion and Brian disappears.
1984: In an Orwellian landscape of surveillance and control, repressive politics and arena rock rule the world. 'Redeem America' preaches the President, while the airwaves belong to corporate rock-God Tommy Stone.
Arthur, an imported Brit who works for a New York daily, is charged by his editors with writing an anniversary article on Brian Slade's staged assassination. As a boy, growing up in Manchester, Arthur had been more than a fan of Slade's. He reluctantly takes on his assignment and begins to investigate his fallen lipsticked-idol.
Velvet Goldmine explores the rise and fall of Brian Slade through Arthur's investigation. Arthur begins to focus on complicated relationships Brian has with his wife Mandy and his American inspiration, rock-star Curt Wild. Arthur finds Mandy working in a decrepit cabaret and pulls her back into the music scene of the early '70s. She reluctantly gives her narrative of Brian's life: Brian's tortured rise, his obsession with Curt Wild, his love and betrayal of Mandy, and his eventual fall. Mandy's story leads Arthur to Curt - and finally to Brian himself.
Details
- Year
- 1999
- Type of film
- Features
- Running time
- 123 mins
- Format
- 35mm Agfa, Fuji
- Director
-
Todd Haynes
- Producer
- Scott Meek, Michael Stipe
- Director of Photography
- Maryse Alberti
- Principal cast
- Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Toni Colette, Christian Bale
- Executive Screen Writer
- Todd Haynes
Categories
Production Status
Production Company
Killer Films c/o Goldwyn Films 10 Stephen Mews London W1P 1PP Tel: 020 7333 8877 Fax: 020 7333 8878 Email: rdouglas@mgm.com
Sales Company
Goldwyn Films as Production Company
Page updates
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