I've just returned from the cinema after watching Moonage Daydream, Directed and produced by Brett Morgen, a documentary about David Bowie. I'd booked my ticket a few weeks ago and had been counting off the days. Fortunately, the local cinema has those nice armchair seats, so I was looking forward to a brilliant couple of hours.
They allow alcohol in the screens, which personally I think is a bad idea. A few people came in with pints of larger; I even saw two women clutching what I can only presume were two pints of lemonade and two large glasses of wine. Now before any bright spark says , "Why shouldn't they?" why should I have to put up with them getting up during the film to have a piss? One guy had to empty his bladder three times! The family sitting next to me were fun mum and dad were clearly dragged along by their daughter, who had donned the now famous Bowie lightning strike. 👨🎤
If only I had some old photos of me back in the day when I had hair sporting a Ziggy Stardust hairstyle.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I would say that as an ardent Bowie fan. It's not actually a documentary but more a montage of performances, interviews and clips of Bowie cleverly sewn together through songs and dialogue. That dialogue is from Bowie alone, apart from the odd interviewer speaking of which Russel Harty pops up a couple of times with his (IMO) disgraceful piss-taking interviews of Bowie. I remember the interview held via satellite when Bowie was living in America "If you're going to shout at the TV, I shall turn it off!" my father said. My mum, on the other hand "I like Russel Harty." parents aye? Tsk. 🤣
I've no intention of spoiling it for anyone; the music and versions of songs are just amazing, but what would you expect with Tony Visconti having produced the music for the film. I always remember back when buying Bowie's albums, if it said: Produced by Tony Visconti, you knew you were in for a treat. The film makes no mention of Angie Bowie, although if you know who you're looking for and look quickly, she is in two scenes. There is also no mention of Bowie's children, but Iman Bowie's 2nd wife does get a food smattering of attention.
OK, gripe time, I'm afraid, like a lot of films and programs these days, far too much time is spent on the early part of the story; halfway through the film, you realise we're following the album chronology, so that when the famous press interview for Let's Dance comes along, I thought, "Whoa! We've still got a heck of a lot to get through?" If I'd looked at my watch, I would have said: "Oh great! Now we're going to hurtle through to the end at breakneck speed." Would I see it again? Most definitely, if only for the music. Would I buy the DVD/MP4? Absolutely!
If you like Bowie, go and see it; it'll be the best £10 you've spent this year.
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