In this month of September 2023, the Criterion Collection have added Moonage Daydream to their list of releases. Graced with soulful narration by Bowie, this immersive audiovisual head rush transmits the essence of a phenomenon that cannot be explained—only experienced. Visually, the film seems like an 1990s-era MTV documentary, with short snippets from various sources and time periods flying by in almost kaleidoscopic fashion. Features captivating, never-before-seen footage and performances spanning David Bowie's 54-year career including The Jean Genie, Aladdin Sane, Space Oddity, Heroes, Let’s Dance, Modern Love, Young Americans, Changes, and many more. Independently owned and operated publications like Slant have been hit hard in recent years, but we’re committed to keeping our content free and accessible—meaning no paywalls or fees.

Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. By using this service you thereby indemnify this Company, its employees, agents and affiliates against any loss or damage, in whatever manner, howsoever caused. Archival clips from movies and records popular in the eras being covered also litter the proceedings, ostensibly to give the viewer context for the zeitgeist that Bowie’s work seemed to comment on. If you enjoyed the film, you should consider picking up Criterion's upcoming 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack because it offers a very impressive presentation of it. I viewed some sections of the film with the Dolby Atmos track and some sections of it with the LPCM 2.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. By acting as if Bowie’s career finished decades before it actually did, Morgen limits the film to repeating imagery and material that have been better covered elsewhere, while denying viewers the poetic finish that Bowie himself orchestrated for his life and career.

They are: The Trial (1962), Walkabout (1971), The Princess Bride (1987), Moonage Daydream (2022), and La Bamba (1987). One could successfully argue that it goes even a step further, prioritizing its style rather than its subject matter).Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream is perhaps one of the most immersive documentaries ever made on any musician. This Company will not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage in whatever manner, howsoever caused, resulting from your disclosure to third parties of personal information.