Blu-ray Review: ‘Sid & Nancy: Collector’s Edition’

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CHICAGO – When I interviewed Tomas Alfredsson, the director of “Let the Right One In” and “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” he told me a wonderful story about Gary Oldman watching daily footage of himself on the set of “Tinker” as his character, George Smiley, fried an egg in his robe. Exciting stuff. Gary turned to Tomas and said, “I used to be Sid Vicious.” See what he meant by that with the Collector’s Edition of this 25-year-old film.

Blu-ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

There are only a few people in the history of rock ‘n’ roll that can accurately be called forces of nature more than mere musicians — Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Robert Plant, the people who changed their art not by attempting to do so but by being honest to their own vision. Sid Vicious didn’t set out to change music by basically inventing punk, but that’s exactly what he did. And director Alex Cox couldn’t have found a more willing collaborator to bring this troubled soul to life than a young Gary Oldman, who made an instant splash in this highly-acclaimed film. I still think Cox’s work is a bit flawed and wish Chloe Webb kept up with Mr. Oldman a bit more in the role of the second title character, but everyone blown away by Mr. Oldman’s work in “Tinker” (and that should be everyone who sees it), needs to go back to the beginning and see “Sid & Nancy” again.

Sid and Nancy was released on Blu-ray on December 27th, 2011
Photo credit: HBO

Synopsis:
Gary Oldman (Batman Begins) and Chloe Webb (The Newton Boys) execute performances that are “nothing short of phenomenal” (Los Angeles Times) as Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his unforgettable junkie girlfriend - two social misfits who literally love each other to death. In this “riveting biography of burnt-out-icons” (The Washington Post), award-winning writer/director Alex Cox (Repo Man) creates “a great film” (Siskel & Ebert) about the destructive lives of two 1970s punk legends.

Their love affair is one of pure devotion. Sid falls hard for groupie Nancy Spungen, who seduces him with her affection - and addiction to heroin. Their inseparable bond - to each other and their drugs - eventually corrodes the band, sending Sid & Nancy down a dark road of despair. Out of money, hope and options, the despondent two hit rock bottom while living in squalor at New York’s infamous Hotel Chelsea. But their journey takes yet another tragic turn as they face their final curtain - and attempt to fulfill their destiny of going out in a blaze of glory!

Special Features:
o For The Love Of Punk
o Junk Love
o Theatrical Trailer

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]