Alex Cox, famous for his 1984 cult classic 'Repo Man', directed the film which focusses on how Vicious, Sex Pistols' bassist played by Gary Oldman, meets Nancy Spungen, an American groupie portrayed by Chloe Webb. Oldman and Webb were unknown names back when the film was released in late 1986, ensuring that nothing would take away from the onscreen characters. Think of Reese Witherspoon in 'Walk the Line'. You are very aware that the woman singing with Cash is that idiot from 'Legally Blonde' and not his wife, June Carter, completely undermining Phoenix's brilliant portrayal of the Man in Black. But I digress...
'Sid & Nancy' starts off well with the opening scene depicting Spungen's death in a hotel bathroom. The death itself is not shown but we see Vicious escorted out of the building by policemen under suspicion of murder. Vicious is interrogated by a cigarette-sharing officer which starts the story off via flashback.
The film falls apart soon after Andrew Schofield portraying John Lydon (then known as 'Johnny Rotten') makes his first appearance urging Vicious to spraypaint a dog which had been locked inside a Rolls Royce. Strangely, Lydon speaks with a Scouse accent despite hailing from London where the film takes place. Cox claims that Lydon himself encouraging Schofield to play the role this way though there is no official confirmation on a meeting ever happening.
Lydon is portrayed as a ginger-haired, beer-swilling buffoon rather than the witty lyricist of one of the most important band's in music history. Schofield does not look or sound like Lydon, nor does he give across the same energy as the frontman. Cox also implies that Lydon was jealous of Vicious and Spungen's relationship, despite having rejected her previously. Lydon wrote in his autobiography 'Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs' that he found the implication "particularly loathsome", lambasting the film as "someone else's fucking fantasy, some Oxford graduate who missed the punk era".
Oldman received praise for his portrayal of Vicious, which I believe is deserved. Vicious comes across as awkward, unsure and bewildered rather than the over-the-top, fighting, fucking junkie troublemaker image which he seems to have left behind.
Anyway, to cut this somewhat facade of a review short, I did not like the film. Nor did I like 'REC 2'. Well I did up until the threat went from being super-rabies to the souls of dead children or something.
Cheers for wasting my time Emily Whelan.
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