An enigma is imagined in Moonage Daydream, the latest documentary from director Brett Morgen.
Bowie. We all have an idea of him, but his life and career were so eclectic that it’s hard to encapsulate him in a single image or description. This film takes a nearly two-and-a-half-hour stab at capturing everything he brought into the world, from his captivating music to his vibrant shows to his boundary-pushing presentation.
There are few better filmmakers to attempt this than Morgen, who drew great praise for his portrait of Nirvana’s frontman in Cobain: Montage of Heck. There was a revered, infamous musician for you, but there are also similarities to be pulled from Morgen’s last feature, Jane. His idea of the primatologist Jane Goodall was based in her flagrant shedding of rules and convention, the same as Bowie did for his entire life.
Skepticism about anyone’s ability to capture Bowie and everything he meant to people is natural, but considering the rousing reviews this has garnered during its festival run, it seems like Morgen pulled it off by taking an immersive, esoteric approach instead of making a straightforward biography. It’s a vision Bowie deserves and one that hopefully captures him well.
Moonage Daydream is directed by Brett Morgen. It will be released in the US on September 16th. For international release dates, click here.
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