DVD Review :: Sid and Nancy

I was in my local big box DVD store the other day looking for "Scanner Darkly" and finding crap when I saw a young skinny Gary Oldman screaming from the front of this DVD cover for a film called "SID AND NACNY". Has anyone seen this before? I was intrigued being a Sex Pistols fan and a Gary Oldman fan. For some reason I have never seen Oldman in any movie where he didn't look around 45. In mind he didn't start acting till he was like 35 but here he is. Anyway this film was a real trip. The story is of Sid Vicious and Nancy (Chloe Webb). Sid was the bassist for the Sex Pistols and Nancy is his junkie girlfriend. Two misfits who love each other, and heroin, literally to death.

This could of just been another Romeo and Juliet (or should I say John and Yoko) crap love story but the acting and cinematography take it to another level. Gary and Chloe really shine in this movie and you can watch their gradual decline as the band breaks up, and the heroin addiction kicks into overdrive. One of the best things to watch for in this film are the points where reality fades away and the heroin fueled dreams kick in. There are some really gorgeous surreal moments ala "Train spotting" or "Being John Malkovich" but with a touch of the 80's. The music video in the middle of the film is one thing where I have trouble sorting if that was real or a dream? Did Sid Vicious remake "My Way" by Frank Sinatra at some point?

All in all I really enjoyed this film. It was filmed in 1986 so I can forgive the lack of behind the scenes footage. However the only extra we get is the Theatrical Trailer. Lame. Still I give this DVD an A. If you like your rock n roll loud and angry and your love stories tragic then this DVD is for you.