Absolute Beginners

Another forgotten David Bowie gem in cinema is 1986's musical Absolute Beginners.

Eddie O'Connell stars as Colin, a young photographer in 1958 London, when the jazz scene was switching over to the rock n roll scene. Colin is madly in love with his girlfriend Crepe Suzette, Patsy Kensit, an aspiring model. The two have the world on the string until Crepe starts making a name in the fashion world. She dumps Colin for her career, so he decides to sell out and take a crack at the big time and hopefully win back her affection. He takes a job with the shady Vendice Partners, Bowie. But when he realizes the high life isn't for him, he goes back to his roots in hopes that Crepe will someday return as well.

Directed by the visionary Julien Temple, Absolute Beginners is a treat of sight and sound. The sets are incredible and the soundtrack is one of the best from the 80's. Bowie's title track is one of my favorites.

The two leads are ok, but it's the supporting cast that shines. Bowie isn't the only musical legend in this. Ray Davies from The Kinks and Sade pop up to do a number.

I'm not a huge fan of musicals, but when the music is this good you can't help but enjoy it.

It's on dvd and blu ray

As an added bonus, I thought I would mention the short, Jazzin' For Blue Jean.

This extended music video is another collaberation between Bowie and Temple. In it Bowie plays two roles. There's Vic, a socially awkward nerd and Screaming Lord Byron, a famous rock star. Vic desperately wants to win the affection from a girl, so he tells her he is personal friends with Byron. She calls his bluff and agrees to go to a Byron show with him. Once at the concert, Vic tries to persuade Byron to come to their table and pretend to know him. But his attempts to get backstage and meet Byron prove to be a real challenge.

Bowie is really funny nerding it up as Vic and basically plays one of his stage persona's as Byron. This was a bit of a trend to make longer videos after Michael Jackson's Thriller was such a success. I personally think that this one is the best.

Kind of rarity today, but if you get the chance, and your a Bowie fan, you should see it.