In his unorthodox documentary on the early career of David Bowie, "Moonage Daydream," Brett Morgen accomplishes the impossible: to outline the creative genius of arguably one of the most important artists in the 20th Century. Like the works of the man it documents, it's a stunning achievement that intuitively mixes Bowie's music with images from various media--newsreels, television interviews, films, concerts, found footage--to visually illustrate the confounding virtuosity of the artist's mind.
Creative output, which defies interpretation, like that of Bowie's, exists on its own merits. It doesn't need explanation to be appreciated. One can say the same for Morgen's film. However, Bowie may provide a possible explanation, late in the film, describing his belief that people take fragments from the world around them to create their own existences. Unfortunately, as it's often the case, what an artist believes does more to mystify his art than explain it, but don't let that deter you.
Bowie's extraordinary career and life have been well documented in both print and television interviews, snippets of which are seen here, so Morgen's resisting convention in his portrait of the artist is prudent. In fact, it complements this visionary's body of work, and is as close to perfect as a biography can be.
For a filmmaker, perhaps one of the most difficult, near impossible goals, is to have an audience lose themselves in your creation, becoming fully immersed in the experience of your work. Morgen's film does this and, most remarkably, in collaboration with its most remarkable subject.
Creative output, which defies interpretation, like that of Bowie's, exists on its own merits. It doesn't need explanation to be appreciated. One can say the same for Morgen's film. However, Bowie may provide a possible explanation, late in the film, describing his belief that people take fragments from the world around them to create their own existences. Unfortunately, as it's often the case, what an artist believes does more to mystify his art than explain it, but don't let that deter you.
Bowie's extraordinary career and life have been well documented in both print and television interviews, snippets of which are seen here, so Morgen's resisting convention in his portrait of the artist is prudent. In fact, it complements this visionary's body of work, and is as close to perfect as a biography can be.
For a filmmaker, perhaps one of the most difficult, near impossible goals, is to have an audience lose themselves in your creation, becoming fully immersed in the experience of your work. Morgen's film does this and, most remarkably, in collaboration with its most remarkable subject.