An iconic and hugely influential singer, songwriter, musician, actor, photographer, traveller, artist, fashion icon and champion of individuality – the talent, creativity and genius of David Bowie saw him master many arts and guises over the years. But throughout his ever evolving personas, musical styles and projects, there’s one major theme which prevailed above the rest – his courage to embrace something new, innovative and wholly different, continually pushing the boundaries of both music and art across the decades.
It’s this journey and artistic process which director, writer, producer and editor Brett Morgan lovingly explores and celebrates in the immersive audiovisual and kaleidoscopic documentary Moonage Daydream – the first posthumous film about Bowie to be created in partnership with his estate. It’s clear that this is an incredible labour of love following five years in production, with Morgan and co. painstakingly restoring and piecing together archival concert footage, interviews, 35mm and 16mm film stock, paintings and home video clips – all profoundly narrated by Bowie himself.
Opening with “Hallo Spaceboy”, it’s clear from the outset Moonage Daydream isn’t going to be constrained by expectations of the genre. It’s not a conventional documentary in any sense, nor a typical concert film, but something more like the man himself – a completely new approach to storytelling and audio and visual immersion which breaks cinematic boundaries. This is much more of an experience than a traditional chronological biography, (complete with an almost scattershot and trippy approach) – and it’s all the better for it.
Morgan truly thrusts you into the chameleonic artist’s creative and spiritual journey, as we witness the artists’ evolution throughout his transient identities via a loud, colourful and vibrant musical collage. At times, it’s almost like you’re propelled right into one of his many iconic live performances, thanks to the inclusion of special, never-before-seen footage mastered with truly impressive sound. A performance of a younger Bowie performing “All the Young Dudes“ and “Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud“ really are a treat. These clips, interspersed with hugely visceral fan reactions and interviews, convey just what the unique artist meant to people, the various generations and in turn, music as a whole.
However, despite delving into Bowie’s various reinventions and visual presentations – including the iconic Ziggy Stardust – one of the most intriguing sections is the rare glimpse at the influential musicians’ creative process. While travelling, predominantly in Berlin, he lists how he deconstructs music by taping together written journals – attempting to use William Burroughs’s cut-up techniques in his songwriting. He also explores how he redefines instruments while recording with Brian Eno on the Berlin trilogy, with the behind-the-scenes look at the creation of “Heroes” proving a real highlight.
Music aside, Morgan emotionally also looks back at Bowie’s past, briefly delving into his dynamic with his mother and his half-brother, Terry, who introduced him to figures such as Jack Kerouac and John Coltrane, before being diagnosed with schizophrenia. There’s also a moving exploration of Bowie’s acceptance of himself amongst his personal journey, evolving from the awkwardness of his early interviews – clearly more comfortable playing other people and personas – denying his belief of love and wrestling with whether he’s a person he likes to be around or not.
Clips from films such as The Man Who Fell to Earth, A Clockwork Orange, The Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Trip to the Moon, are interspersed throughout, further emphasising Bowie’s recurring themes of feeling alien and existing outside the norm. These quieter moments from an older Bowie, truly prove a profound and emotional view of the world and humanity as a whole: “All people, no matter who they are, all wish they’d appreciated life more. It’s what you do in life that’s important, not how much time you have.”
That’s not to say the documentary is without fault though, you do indeed feel the lengthy runtime, while the often hurtling speed and incredibly loud volume of various segments can prove sensory overload.
Verdict
Moonage Daydream is an electrifying and incredibly immersive experience, proving a hugely celebratory & wonderfully trippy ode to one of our most creative artists. Featuring fascinating never-before-seen performances and profound archive interviews, this is undoubtedly a wonderful love letter to The Starman – Bowie fans rejoice!
