Written by: Alex Cox and Abbe Wool
Directed by: Alex Cox
Starring: Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb
Special features: For the Love of Punk, Junk Love, and Theatrical trailer
From the box:
Gary Oldman (Batman Begins) and Chloe Webb (The Newton Boys) execute performances that are "Nothing Short of Penomena." (Los Angeles Times) as Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his unforgettable junkie girlfriend - two social misfits who literally love each other to death. In this "riveting biography of burnt-out icons" (the Washington Post), award-winning writer/director Alex Cox (Repo Man) creates "a great film" (siskel & Ebert) about the destructive lives of two 1970s punk legends.
Their love affair is one of pure devotion. Sid falls hard fro groupie Nancy Spungen, who seduces him with her affection - and addiction to heroin. Their inseparable bond - to each other and their drugs - eventually corrodes the band, sending Sid and Nancy down a dark road of despair. Out of money, hope and options, the despondent two hit rock bottom while living in squalor at New York's infamous Hotel Chelsea. But their journey takes yet another tragic turn as they face their final curtain - and attempt to fulfill their destiny of going out in a laze of glory!
It's certainly a cult classic and MGM is finally releasing Sid & Nancy on blu-ray in a (underwhelming) collector's edition.
The film is wonderful, although I don't know if it's one that demands repeat viewings. The highlight of course are the mesmerizing performances from the two leads, Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb. They're both heartbreaking and completely authentic as the punk's greatest train wrecks.
The film looks and sounds great on blu-ray. Almost too good to be honest. A movie like this feels like its best scene on a scratchy film negative in a dark run down theater. Somehow flawed like its subjects. Funny, I never thought a great picture could be a negative.
The sad part here is that MGM is calling this release a collector's edition and to be honest there isn't much here. A couple featurettes and a trailer make this hardly one to jump up and down for. Inf act, it's pretty disappointing. Especially with the Criterion edition floating around out there.
Still, the supplements don't make the movie and Sid & Nancy is one for the ages. It's dark, disturbing, uncomfortably funny at times and ultimately a tragic love story. Whether real or not, you can't help but admire the connection they had even if it was fueled by drugs (and god knows what else).
Pop Culture Beast rating
7/10
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