Sid and Nancy (1986)

I am aware that this might not be to everyone's taste, however I found this absolutely compelling, well written, directed and superbly acted on all fronts. Almost documentary like in its blazing portrayal of fame gone wrong.

Powerful, yet often morbid drama from indie director Alex Cox focusing on the unnerving story of one of rock and roll's most notorious and self destructive couples...the Sex Pistol's bassist Sid Vicious and his drug dealing girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Cox's film isn't for all tastes as his story exposes the grimy, brutish and unpleasant world of the punk music explosion in the United Kingdom during the mid 1970's. Method actor Gary Oldman takes centre stage with a first class performance as the naive working class boy Sid Vicious who suddenly found himself turned into the punk music movement's icon of rebellion, and Chloe Webb is equally intense as Nancy Spungen, the obnoxious and self obsessed US born groupie who falls in with the band. Don't look for some revealing insights into the Sex Pistols - check out Julian Temple's stellar documentary "The Filth & The Fury" if thats what your looking for, however this film depicts a tragic love story between two parasitic personalities that got in way over their heads in the world of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll and paid the ultimate price. Look for grunge singer Courtney Love in a small role......and under appreciated Scottish actor David Hayman is brilliant as the Svengali like Sex Pistols business manager, Malcolm McLaren.

Co-dependency is always ugly for those forced to see it, however Sid and Nancy manage to inject cynical humour in this tale of doomed junkies that precedes Trainspotting. Worth seeing for the re-enactment of My Way, and Oldman performance that essentially resurrects Vicious.

Brilliant! Brilliant! If you love your music this is a must. Even if you don't it is still a gripping story of two people on a collision course.