Stardust Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Stardust Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 6, 2021

A true bio-pic on the life and times of David Bowie will probably never be made, forcing the producers of “Stardust” to work around legal issues as they attempt to illuminate a transitional year for the future industry icon. It seems futile to even attempt to do a movie about David Bowie that doesn’t feature David Bowie music, but here we are, and “Stardust” gets somewhere interesting when it comes to the psychological state of the musician during a time of tremendous insecurity. Sonically, the picture is almost pointless, with co-writer/director Gabriel Range trying to work around the loss of classic tunes, failing to come up with stimulating replacements capable of identifying Bowie’s developing brilliance during a year of career redirection.

In 1971, David Bowie (Johnny Flynn) is stuck with low album sales for his latest release, “The Man Who Sold The World,” facing a dire future with his record label if matters don’t improve. Married to Angie (Jena Malone), a fiery woman, David is unsure how to proceed, pushing for a tour of America to attract more fans. Without proper paperwork, David makes his way to Maryland, meeting Mercury Records publicist Ron (Marc Maron), who’s trying to make a name for David Bowie in the states, but he’s forbidden from performing live. Taking a road trip across the country, David and Ron get to know one another, with the industry man working to secure critical interviews while the artist deals with his fears, reflecting on his relationship with his half-brother, Terry (Derek Moran), who’s battling mental illness.

“Stardust” doesn’t pretend it’s sharing the truth about Bowie’s experience in America, with Range using the situation with Mercury Records to explore the musician’s time of self-examination, confronted with the limited potency of his dandy ways, which eventually inspired a rebranding to the Ziggy Stardust character. The Bowie in “Stardust” is a lost man trying to make a strong impression in the states, only lacking knowledge how to do so without the ability to perform. The screenplay details this struggle, exploring Bowie’s relationship with Ron, a publicist with a vision to get the singer in Rolling Stone, learning how difficult a task this is with an unprepared artist. Scenes between the men are the best in the movie, exploring the pressures of personas and the dirty work of promotion, which causes friction between the characters before they start to understand each other. It also helps to have Maron around, adding some mild humor and credible exasperation as Ron watches Bowie sabotage his own momentum with disastrous interviews and impromptu performances in front of unresponsive crowds.

“Stardust” seeks to understand Bowie’s drive for commercial visibility, with the artist living in the shadow of Marc Bolan, frustrated with his inability to build on the success of the single, “Space Oddity.” He wants something more from the world, but he can’t quite achieve it in his current state. Shock value involving the wearing of dresses is losing its effectiveness, with Americans immediately labeling him some type of sexual deviant. Range tries to get under Bowie’s skin by exploring his relationship with Terry, who’s been losing his battle with schizophrenia for years, forcing his half-brother to confront his own mental issues. Bowie used this struggle to inspire “The Man Who Sold The World,” and the writing examines his fear of confronting such a reality, dodging interview questions and keeping himself out of sight as he deals with strange visions that hint at horrors ahead for the musician. What’s odd about “Stardust” is how is eventually changes focus to Terry and his influence, with Range losing interest in the musical side of Bowie’s life, digging into his crippling uncertainty instead. This leads to repetitive scenes of emotional struggle, while the overall psychological study isn’t as profound as the helmer intends it to be.

Stardust Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1:84:1 aspect ratio) presentation runs very dark at times, but frame information remains intact, never fully solidifying as the story visits rooms with limited lighting and evening encounters. Detail is communicative throughout the viewing experience, offering a sense of facial wear and tear on the characters, who experience a range of emotional exhaustion, and makeup is appreciable. Clothing is fibrous, dealing with strange period outfits. Room decoration is available for study. Colors favor the styles of the early 1970s, with lots of orange and brown. A colder palette of blues are present during hospital visits. Skintones are natural.

Stardust Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix leads with dialogue exchanges, securing clear accents as British characters banter with Americans. Emotionality is preserved, from hushed introspection to argumentative actions from Angie, who's a very loud character. Musical moods are set with gentle scoring cues and more pronounced stage performances. Instrumentation and vocals are sharp, and surrounds offer atmospherics and room tone. Low-end is also satisfactory with rock beats and some physical altercations.

Stardust Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:11, HD) is included.

Stardust Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Flynn does what he can with his performance, trying to summon the spirit of David Bowie without angering the lawyers, tasked with displaying a duality of showman and human as the singer grows terrified of insanity. Flynn is capable in the role, but he can only get so far without Bowie's sound, playing songs that aren't immediately recognizable, which deflates the viewing experience. David Bowie steps up to a microphone but doesn't sing a David Bowie song? Nobody wants that, and while Range tries to copy fashion choices and general poses, he can't conquer this inherent issue with the picture. "Stardust" might be of some use to fans looking for a different take on Bowie's years of development, and there's an enjoyable overview of record business negotiations with Ron's tireless work and increasing agitation. As entertaining as the feature is at times, it's not a David Bowie movie, lacking an honest assessment of a formative year.