Filco Reviews

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

It's the first ever movie on the glam period, so it was always going to be risky

[9/10 · 7 November 1998]

This movie is set in the glam period of rock, and is really the first movie ever to do this. The characters are loosely based on figures david bowie, his once wife, and mick jagger/iggy pop type character. While david bowie wasn't involved in the movie (although the director asked him to be, and said he read and approved of the script) it has always been believed that david bowie had an affair with another major rock star - just like the characters in this story do. While this movie is about the characters of this time, it also portrays the fans of this time through christan bale, a sexually confused teenager during the glam rock period who goes back to revisit his past 10 years later to do a retrospective journalism article. This movie is full of sex and drugs, but as far as gay sex scenes go, this movie has one of the best. It is not totally overdone as so many are, but is quite tasteful. The best things about this film though are the costumes and soundtrack. Both old and new music (specially made for the film) are used. The director enlisted the help of some of the period's stars to make this film, such as iggy pop and brian ferry, so the periods portrayal wasn't solely fiction. I really enjoyed this movie for its originality, and its frankness. However i will admit that it is not for everyone. Not for the easily offended, repressed or homophobic. 9 out of 10.

Music from Another Room (1998)

A movie for those rainy days

[7/10 · 7 November 1998]

This movie takes a work of fate, a really screwed up family, and an over-romantic guy, and puts them all together. Classifying the genre of the film is a bit difficult - it contains some light comedy, a lot of drama, as well as romance, yet I wouldn't really call it a romantic comedy. The film focuses on Danny, who re-enters the life of a family who he hasn't been involved in since he helped is father deliver a member of the family when he was five! One member is blind, another is depressed, and when Jesus comes into their lives, no one knows what's going on! The movie plot is surprisingly involved, and is quite well done. The story line was definitely an original. It's not a big screen film, as is just as good watched on video, but I still recommend it for those rainy days, when all you want is something light and entertaining to pass the time. Keep the tissues handy though! 7 out of 10.

Stella Does Tricks (1996)

Thought provoking

[9/10 · 7 November 1998]

I live in a collage like set up with 45 others, and was watching this with 4 people in the common room. By the end of the movie though, there was about 20 people in the room in uproar about the film, what it portrays, who was wrong, who was right, drugs, sex - everything! It just one of those movies that everyone has an opinion on. The movie follows the life of an underage prostitute. There are basically two stories shown at once in the movie - one showing why she is like she is, and one showing what she is trying to do about it. Although there are not really any graffic sex scenes in the movie, it is more what is insinuated that might make it offensive to some. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see the darker side of the streets. The really scary thing about the movie is that the story was apparently inspired after interviews with some underage prostitutes on the street! 9 out of 10.

Stella Does Tricks (1996)

Thought provoking

[9/10 · 7 November 1998]

I live in a collage like set up with 45 others, and was watching this with 4 people in the common room. By the end of the movie though, there was about 20 people in the room in uproar about the film, what it portrays, who was wrong, who was right, drugs, sex - everything! It's just one of those movies that everyone has an opinion on. The movie follows the life of an underage prostitute. There are basically two stories shown at once in the movie - one showing why she is like she is, and one showing what she is trying to do about it. Although there are not really any graffic sex sceens in the movie, it is more what is insinuated that might make it offensive to some. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see the darker side of the streets. The really scary thing about the movie is that the story was apparently inspired after inteviews with some underage prostitutes on the street! 9 out of 10.