Todd Haynes Velvet Goldmine is an absolute must-watch for anyone that enjoys a slightly over-the-top visual spectacle. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor play two glam rock singers heavily modelled on the likes of David Bowie and Iggy Pop, with the story being told from the perspective of a very young Christian Bale as their devoted fan coming to terms with his homosexuality. It is nearly impossible to explain the complicated plot with all its flashbacks and fantasy sequences, but this is a film you shouldn’t just experience the first time around. Every time you rewatch it you will discover something new about it.
If you’re not yet convinced: it is also the film in which Batman gets shagged by Oban Wan Kenobi. Just saying.
Velvet Goldmine (1998), directed by Todd Haynes, is released on DVD by Channel 4 DVD, Certificate 15.
