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Velvet Goldmine

Velvet Goldmine

Drama · Music · 1998

Almost a decade since larger-than-life glam-rock enigma Brian Slade disappeared from public eye, an investigative journalist is on assignment to uncover the truth behind his former idol.

Movie details

Velvet Goldmine

“Leave your expectations at the door”

1998 Drama · Music 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

Almost a decade since larger-than-life glam-rock enigma Brian Slade disappeared from public eye, an investigative journalist is on assignment to uncover the truth behind his former idol.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Velvet Goldmine?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Todd Haynes

Written by

James Lyons · Todd Haynes

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor

Curt Wild

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Brian Slade

Toni Collette

Toni Collette

Mandy Slade

Christian Bale

Christian Bale

Arthur Stuart

Suzy Eddie Izzard

Suzy Eddie Izzard

Jerry Devine

Emily Woof

Emily Woof

Shannon

Michael Feast

Michael Feast

Cecil

Court is in session

Put Velvet Goldmine on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.