SummaryIn London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.
Directed By:Julien Temple
Written By:Colin MacInnes, Michael Hamlyn, Richard Burridge, Christopher Wicking
Absolute Beginners
Metascore
Mixed or Average
60
User score
Generally Favorable
6.4
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
54% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
31% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
15% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
100
One of the most entertaining movies this year, and one of the few that shows real invention and audacity, along with big-studio technical flash. [8 June 1986, p.C27]
75
It remains an engaging, energetic film. [22 Jan 1987, p.9B]
75
A visually inventive and energetic pop musical.
70
Looking through these layers of time, this flashy, extravagant rock musical, which opens today at the Ziegfeld, elevates style to a symptom and cause of social change. And though it aims for more coherence than it delivers, it has endless flair with no self-importance...For all its unevenness, Absolute Beginners is high pop culture.
60
Skim the pleasantly diverting surface of Absolute Beginners and you can easily forget that there is nothing contained beneath. [18 Apr 1986, p.C6]
40
A general disappointment, but then with David Bowie and Patsy Kensit what did you expect.
20
What's left here is not so much a movie as an assault so unpleasant, it leaves you wondering what you could have done to deserve it. [27 May 1986, p.B3]
User score
Generally Favorable
40% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
40% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
20% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Aug 29, 2021
9
A visually stunning musical which mixed romance and social commentary was virtually unseen by audiences at the time of its release, but still holds up nicely today. Perhaps audiences weren't interested in a musical that dealt with social and political unrest. At the same time, audiences that were interested in social issues, perhaps did not want it addressed in the form of a musical. However, for audiences with a open mind, "Absolute Beginners" can be both entertaining and illuminating. The fastastic soundtrack features a mix of classic and original tunes. The cast which includes David Bowie (who both sings and dances) is first-rate. Sade makes a rare film appearance singing, the fine original, "Killer Blow." Also, watch out for an early film appearance of Carmen Ejogo, who plays the younger sister of the Mr. Cool character in the film. The movie was helmed by music video Julien Temple, who also shot Janet Jackson's "When I Think of You" clip. The introduction of the film employs a similar visual style to the video, which efficiently introduces the major characters. Looking for something beyond the typical musical, then "Absolute Beginners" is definitely worth a look.
