Sid & Nancy (1986)
Year: 1986
Country: USA
Director: Alex Cox
Criterion Spine Number: 20
Reviewed: May 2014
Country: USA
Director: Alex Cox
Criterion Spine Number: 20
Reviewed: May 2014
There’s a certain romanticism to the view that a life is best lived fast and ends spectacularly when you’re still young. There’s a freedom about living your life heavily influenced by sex, drugs and rock & roll that is incredibly seductive and it’s these sort of dreams that Sid & Nancy seems to be playing around with this idea. Based on the life of Sex Pistols’ bass guitarist, Sid Vicious, and his girlfriend Nancy, it features numerous scenes of utterly selfish pleasure satisfaction. Their love is dangerous not just to society but to one another as they pull one another down further into the dark spiral of addiction and obsession. It’s a fascinating portrait of a very treacherous love, but what makes this such an interesting film is that it almost seems to celebrate their relationship. Sid & Nancy lived on the outskirts of society, refusing to conform to social norms about behaviour, which alienates them to everyone. It’s the reason Sid’s kicked out of the band and Nancy’s family abandons her, because they just don’t know what to do with them. They’re an extreme example of counter-culture, fighting back against an oppressive society. That is not to say that they’re heroes, because they’re not (which is something that alternative culture does quite a bit, making people heroic who really don’t deserve to be. The whole obsession around Charles Manson springs to mind) and that’s one of this film’s greatest strengths. It shows that their love and destructive personalities are not good and shouldn’t be celebrated, but it does accept that these people are inspirational in the challenging way they lived their life. It’s a difficult film to get a grip on because it is saying two things at once. It partly suggests that they’re heroes and should be celebrated, but also says that they were two deeply flawed human beings who were far from perfect. It’s a really interesting portrait of an interesting moment in history, but it’s not a great film. There are moments when it’s quite slow and drags on, but it’s anchored by two excellent performers who blend so effortlessly into their roles that it’s impossible to recognise them from other roles. Add to that, a really excellent soundtrack and a punky feel and you have a cult movie in the making.
In the end, Sid & Nancy is a film that should be lauded for both celebrating and challenging the punk counter-culture it puts forward.
In the end, Sid & Nancy is a film that should be lauded for both celebrating and challenging the punk counter-culture it puts forward.
Best Scene: Sid performs 'My Way'
Overall Verdict: 8
Overall Verdict: 8