Sid & Nancy (Directed by Alex Cox, 1986)- Sex Pistol's bassist Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman) and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb) were the poster children for the punk movement in the late 1970's. Alex Cox's compelling film Sid & Nancy tells the story of their brief, tragic love affair. It is also a brutal depiction of drug abuse and is difficult to watch at times.
The film opens in 1978 at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City where Sid is being arrested for the murder of Nancy. We flashback to England in the late 70's where Nancy Spungen, an American groupie, first meets Sid Vicious. Sid doesn't think much of her at first but after he sees her humiliated in a bar, he approaches her and learns she was ripped off in a drug deal. Sid, in an attempt to empathize with her, smashes his head against a brick wall. They soon become an item and it is clear he generally cares for Nancy, and she appreciates the fact that he wants her around for more than just sex and drugs. Soon after, Nancy who was already a junkie, introduces Sid to heroin. The film then follows their self-destructive relationship through the disastrous Sex Pistols American tour, to the fateful night of Nancy's death. The Pistols hated Nancy right from the beginning and regarded her as the "Yoko" of the band. Attempts were made to separate them which resulted in a stronger bond between the two, which makes the outcome of their relationship all the more unfortunate. Although Sid confessed to killing Nancy, many rumors have surfaced about what actually happened. Some say drug dealers had murdered Nancy, others think they made a suicide pact but Sid was so doped up, he couldn't complete the pact. The most plausible explanation is the one in the film, a disagreement led to an accidental stabbing of Nancy.
Alex Cox's use of dreamlike sequences are tremendously effective. Two scenes stand out in my mind, the first being the fleeing of Sid and Nancy after a Pistols'concert has been broken up by the police. They appear to be in another world, unaffected and invulnerable to the ensuing chaos that surrounds them. The second is the ethereally poignant final scene when Sid is reunited with his love. The performances by Gary Oldman, and Chloe Webb are extraordinary. If you have ever seen the real Sid and Nancy you will appreciate their characterizations even more. The cinematography by Roger Deakins and music by Joe Strummer, The Pogues, and Pray for Rain add to the somber atmosphere. Look for Courtney Love as one of Nancy's druggy friends (life imitating art). You need not to be a fan of punk music to enjoy this beautiful film. Do yourself a favor and go check this one out if you haven't already. Sid & Nancy is available now on DVD and VHS.