Metrograph

Using a Citizen Kane-inspired premise, Haynes pays tribute to the androgynous allure and decadent dash of ‘70s glam rock and, in particular, David Bowie. In 1984, a Brit journalist (Christian Bale) goes on the trail of reclusive rock star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), trying to create a profile of Slade from the testimonies of those who’d been close to him—particularly the American rocker Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor), a kind of pastiche of Iggy Pop/Lou Reed. Bowie, who had his own movie on the glam era planned, wouldn’t allow the use of his music in the film, so Haynes assembled a period perfect soundtrack of covers and pastiches with contemporary artists including Thom Yorke, Jarvis Cocker, and Shudder to Think’s Nathan Larson, whose “Ballad of Maxwell Demon” is a particular standout.