Velvet Goldmine

VELVET GOLDMINE (1998) "TV Eye", Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor)

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• published: 31 Oct 2009
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(AGE RESTRICTED - MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY!) Amazing, incredible song clip from the brilliantly original 1998 film, "Velvet Goldmine". Ewan McGregor just NAILED this (shocking) scene. Ewan McGregor gives one of the finest performances in a "rock film" ever. Hard to explain this, but I will try: In this scene Ewan McGregor, in his most totally kick-ass role - performs the Iggy Pop classic, "TV EYE" at an English music festival, and in fact the character Curt Wild, is loosely based on Iggy Pop (and a bit of Lou Reed). Importantly what happens in this scene is that Curt Wild is seen and heard for the first time by "Brian Slade" the character played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Slade is loosely based on David Bowie (still following?) Slade is both mesmerized and jealous enough so that he will throw out his current hippy-queer image (ie, "Hunky Dory") and reinvent himself as a Glam Rock god, calling himself Maxwell Demon - who is of course based on Bowie's Ziggy Stardust alter-ego) Oh yes, and the woman laughing (Toni Collette) is based on Bowie's wife, Angela Bowie, who was instrumental in his career. Got all that? Yes, there are layers and layers going on in this roman-a-clef type film, told in the style of Citizen Kane no less,which contains so many musical and cultural cross-references going on it's not even funny. In its first opening minutes even Oscar Wilde makes an appearance (as an inspiring gay presence). VELVET GOLDMINE is risky, odd and out there and BUT DAMN it works on its own level. The film, directed by Todd Haynes, has so many brilliant musical moments like this scene here, and succeeds on so many levels, hitting the very important musical period of the 70's going on in both the US and Britain dead on, plus features electric performances from its two young lead actors, Rhys-Meyers and McGregor. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: If you have never seen this film, it is well worth seeking out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_Goldmine Turn the volume up - Watch this a few times. "TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME" - Ziggy Stardust Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended.