Although I intended this blog to be about my Netflix queue, I do get movies elsewhere. For instance, I got Moonage Daydream (2022) from the library. The link may not be much use to you unless you live in my neighborhood. But I wasn't really sure what I should link to. Netflix doesn't have this in their catalog yet.
I'm also not sure what to call this movie - it's not quite a documentary. Maybe a collage. It tracks the career and life of David Bowie from approximately the Spiders from Mars through his death. But there aren't any talking heads (except Bowie and his interviewers) or discussions or philosophizing (except from Bowie and his interviewers). It includes lots of concert footage, starting with "The Wild-Eyed Boy from Freecloud". There are lots of interviews with Bowie, who is very smart, open, and honest in conversation. There are scenes from his movies, like Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, The Hunger, and The Man Who Fell to Earth. But there are also lots of interpolated material - one or two seconds from Metropolis, This Island Earth, and similar oddities.
The movie shows Bowie's NY, LA, and Berlin periods, and talks about why he went there, as well as why he constantly changes his look and style. It talks (Bowie) talks about his older brother who introduced him to Burroughs and Kerouac, then became schizophrenic. It doesn't talk about the drugs and the (rumors of) gay sx. It doesn't mention his first wife or his son Duncan Jones, although they signed off on the film. It has some very touching things to say about his wife Iman. But mostly it's about his music and philosophy, mixed in with some odd visuals.
We enjoyed this (it's a little long at 2 hrs 20 min) but didn't find it that deep. But it was a lovely tribute to Bowie, a lovely human and great artist.
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