Why the 2020 David Bowie biopic Stardust failed to capture its subject's legendary spirit
In short: The 2020 biographical drama Stardust attempted to chronicle David Bowie’s transformative 1971 US tour and the birth of his Ziggy Stardust persona. Yet, the production faced significant hurdles, including a lack of rights to the artist's own music and a cold reception from critics who found the film strangely pedestrian.
Directed by Gabriel Range, Stardust focuses on a pivotal but troubled period in David Bowie's early career. The narrative centers on his 1971 tour of the United States, exploring his complex personal dynamics with his wife, Angie, and his half-brother, Terry Burns. Johnny Flynn stars as the musician, portraying a version of Bowie that some critics described as a mediocre individual struggling with internal demons rather than the iconic star fans expected. The film’s production, which took place in Canada and the United States between July and September 2019, was hampered by the Bowie estate’s decision to withhold approval and music rights.
Because the filmmakers could not use Bowie’s original catalog, the soundtrack consists of cover songs that the real Bowie performed during that era, such as Jacques Brel’s Amsterdam and The Yardbirds’ I Wish You Would. This absence of iconic tracks was a frequent point of contention for reviewers. While some critics, such as Mark Beaumont of NME, appreciated the film as a road-trip drama, many others found the execution lacking. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw and The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey both awarded the film two out of five stars, noting that while Flynn’s performance was commendable, the film failed to do justice to Bowie’s maverick identity.
The film’s release was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the cancellation of its planned premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2020. It eventually debuted at the San Diego International Film Festival in October 2020 before a wider release by IFC Films in November. Commercially and critically, the project struggled, grossing only $62,251 at the box office. With a 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 35 out of 100 on Metacritic, the consensus was that the film lacked the psychedelic sophistication and glitter associated with the artist it sought to portray.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Stardust (2020 film)
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