{"id":99244,"date":"2026-11-07T18:16:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T01:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99244"},"modified":"2026-11-07T18:17:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T01:17:37","slug":"absolute-beginners-1986","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99244","title":{"rendered":"Absolute Beginners (1986)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;We don&#8217;t sell things &#8211; we sell dreams.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Poster-202x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-99245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Poster-202x300.png 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Poster-182x270.png 182w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Poster.png 616w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 1950s Britain, an aspiring photographer (Eddie O&#8217;Connell) is distressed when his girlfriend (Patsy Kensit) is wooed away from him by a wealthy dandy (James Fox) &#8212; but soon O&#8217;Connell himself is caught up in a complex web of fame and violence, including being hired by a racist property developer (David Bowie).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>David Bowie Films<\/li>\n<li>James Fox Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Photographers<\/li>\n<li>Racism and Race Relations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nBased on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Absolute_Beginners_(novel)\">a novel by Colin MacInnes<\/a>, this wildly expressive musical &#8212; directed by Julian Temple, whose other <em>GFTFF<\/em> title is <em>The Great Rock and Roll Swindle<\/em> (1980) &#8212; was notorious for contributing towards the bankruptcy of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Goldcrest_Films\">Goldcrest film company<\/a>. Indeed, it never quite took off with audiences, but it&#8217;s an unusual enough production to merit viewing &#8212; especially given its creative sets and staging (including an impressive single-take opening shot): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sets-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the casting of David Bowie. (According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0090585\/trivia\/?item=tr3018266&#038;ref_=ext_shr_lnk\">IMDb&#8217;s Trivia page<\/a>, &#8220;Julien Temple asked David Bowie to write music for the film. After reading the book and then the script, Bowie agreed to Temple&#8217;s offer if he could also play the part of Vendice Partners.&#8221;) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie2-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4839abso.html\">In his review, DVD Savant<\/a> questions whether the film is actually &#8220;good,&#8221; noting regardless that &#8220;the movie is eye candy from one end to the other, a parade of color and costume creativity, flashy but not exaggerated editing, and the occasional snappy choreographic scene.&#8221; Indeed, it&#8217;s literally hard to pull your eyes away from this flick, given that &#8220;there are no calm scenes. To express the vitality and urgency of his characters, Temple keeps the camera moving at all times through crowds of eccentric supporting and bit players.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Morris-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While there is far too much going on narratively, one can&#8217;t accuse Temple or his team of shying away from appropriately controversial topics, ranging from the toxic allure of fame and capitalism to violent systemic racism. To that end, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0090585\/trivia\/?item=tr4810161&#038;ref_=ext_shr_lnk\">one more trivia item on IMDb<\/a> offers a useful comparison: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Elements of this film seemingly share a similar genre with <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=42131\"><em>West Side Story<\/em> (1961)<\/a>, most obviously a 1950s period musical set against a background of gangs and knife crime. But, where West Side Story is well-known as a version of Romeo and Juliet, there&#8217;s a major element in this film that clearly continues to affect its box office takings, lack of home video releases, and lack of television showings, decades later, is primarily the volume of racist material, unavoidable due to the underlying story, and the &#8220;fascists&#8221; portrayal, even though its set in the 1950s, which can be taken out of context. Shot as a straight drama, the film may have had a completely different success.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Dancing-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Olive Stapleton&#8217;s creative cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Cinematography-Mirrors-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Kensit-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Eye-Sade-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Vibrant production design, sets, and costumes<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Sade-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many creatively staged sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Record-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-House-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A daringly forthright expose of xenophobia and racism in Britain<br \/>\n<strong>Content warning:<\/strong> overt use of the N word<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Keep-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>David Bowie as Vendice Partners<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Absolute-Beginners-Bowie-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, as a most unique film of its era, and for its historical relevance. Listed as a Cult Movie in the back of Peary&#8217;s book.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0090585\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4839abso.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tcm.tumblr.com\/post\/651846874666598400\/julien-temple-musicals-absolute-beginners-86\">TCM Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t sell things &#8211; we sell dreams.&#8221; Synopsis: In 1950s Britain, an aspiring photographer (Eddie O&#8217;Connell) is distressed when his girlfriend (Patsy Kensit) is wooed away from him by a wealthy dandy (James Fox) &#8212; but soon O&#8217;Connell himself is caught up in a complex web of fame and violence, including being hired by a racist property developer (David Bowie). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: David Bowie Films James Fox Films Love Triangle Musicals Photographers Racism and Race Relations&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99244\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.5 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&quot;We don&#039;t sell things - we sell dreams.&quot; Synopsis: In 1950s Britain, an aspiring photographer (Eddie O&#039;Connell) is distressed when his girlfriend (Patsy 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