The iconic David Bowie is put through a bold new lens in the extravagant and dazzling Moonage Daydream.
Named after Bowie's 1972 song (which was used in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy), this impressionistic 'anti-documentary' doesn't offer a traditional blow-by-blow account of Bowie's life. Instead, it uses image and music to conjure an emotional tapestry of Bowie's extraordinary cosmic existence and stage presence.
Intrigued? Scroll down to find out more about the film.
What is Moonage Daydream about?
Put simply, Moonage Daydream gets to grips with the very essence of David Bowie in all his chameleonic glory. However, the movie is not billed as your typical music documentary.
Instead, a bold colour palette combines with concert footage both familiar and unseen (there are 11 minutes of new clips for fans to salivate over) to give a sense of the great man himself. It's akin to a moving collage of Bowie's life, encompassing a host of techniques including mime, animation and film to give a sense of his singular eccentricity.
In the words of the official synopsis, Moonage Daydream is "an immersive cinematic experience; an audio-visual space odyssey that not only illuminates the enigmatic legacy of David Bowie but also serves as a guide to living a fulfilling and meaningful life in the 21st century."
What aspects of Bowie's career does the movie focus on specifically?
The movie isn't interested in a strictly literal account of Bowie's various successes.
Instead, it's more of a hallucinogenic deep-cut of Bowie's career, lurching from his collaboration with Brian Eno on the Berlin trilogy to Bowie's acclaimed role in Nic Roeg's melancholic The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Clearly, there's too much material to be culled from Bowie's genre-defining career. However, Moonage Daydream mixes iconoclastic performances and little-seen excerpts, while often pitting several of Bowie's hits side by side.
The collage of the introspective Sound and Vision with the exuberant Absolute Beginners, mixing the percussion of the former with the vocals of the latter, is just one example of the film's inventive spirit.
Who has directed Moonage Daydream?
Moonage Daydream is directed by Brett Morgen. He is the Oscar-nominated director of the well-received Kurt Cobain documentary Montage of Heck, an early example of his skill at delving beneath the skin of complex and driven musicians.
Morgen also helmed the acclaimed documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture, which explores the legacy of infamous and pioneering Hollywood film producer Robert Evans (the man behind Chinatown and numerous other masterpieces).
Does the movie have the blessing of David Bowie's family?
Yes, it does. Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, the director of Moon and Source Code, tweeted earlier this year that the movie “absolutely has the blessing of our family”, adding: “I know it was made with love”.
How has Moonage Daydream been critically received?
The movie currently sports an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, including a positive reception from critics across the world.
Former BBC Radio Five Live critic Mark Kermode graced the movie with a five-star review. He praised the film's ability to "share some of the adventurous spirit of its subject – a chameleon who wasn’t afraid of falling flat on his face while reaching for the stars."
Kermode adds that "a profound sense of love... shines through Moonage Daydream." What more could a die-hard Bowie fan ask for?
When is Moonage Daydream released at Cineworld?
Moonage Daydream is on release now at Cineworld cinemas. The film is screening in both IMAX and standard widescreen presentations.
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