A powerful new documentary has forced a prominent music critic to confront a painful piece of his own history: the scathing 1979 review that reportedly made David Bowie cry. The film, 'Bowie: The Final Act,' airing on BBC Two, charts the iconic artist's astonishing final burst of creativity, leaving the reviewer, Allan Jones, profoundly moved and reckoning with his long-ago critique.
From Scathing Review to Profound Reckoning
The documentary focuses on Bowie's last five years, a period of intense productivity following a near-fatal heart attack in 2004. It details his work on the musical Lazarus and the creation of his final album, 'Blackstar,' released just two days before his death from liver cancer on January 10, 2016. For critic Allan Jones, formerly of Melody Maker, watching the film was a deeply personal experience.
Jones is confronted with his own 1979 review of Bowie's album 'Lodger,' in which he described the star as a "pathetic, burnt-out case." The documentary reveals that Bowie read the piece and was visibly upset, with his then-publicist telling Jones, "You made him cry." For decades, Jones carried the weight of that comment, and the new film forces him to re-evaluate his stance in the face of Bowie's ultimate artistic triumph.
The Final Creative Surge
'Bowie: The Final Act' paints a portrait of an artist acutely aware of his mortality and channelling that awareness into profound work. Director Francis Whately assembles rare footage and intimate interviews with key collaborators, including:
- Director Ivo van Hove and actor Michael C. Hall from the Lazarus musical.
- Musicians Donny McCaslin and Mark Guiliana, who worked on 'Blackstar.'
- Bowie's long-time producer, Tony Visconti.
The film shows Bowie as the driving force behind these projects, meticulously planning his final statement. It highlights how 'Blackstar' and Lazarus were intertwined parts of a grand, coded farewell to his fans, dealing directly with themes of death, legacy, and transcendence.
A Critic's Humbling Journey
For Allan Jones, the documentary serves as a catalyst for a public mea culpa. Watching the evidence of Bowie's genius in his final years, Jones is struck by the magnitude of what he once dismissed. He reflects on the callousness of his earlier writing and the human impact of a critic's words.
The film does not let Jones off the hook but instead uses his journey to underscore the depth and resilience of Bowie's artistry. It demonstrates how an artist can evolve beyond their critics' worst assessments to achieve something timeless. Jones's stunned reaction to the documentary becomes a powerful testament to Bowie's enduring and complex legacy.
'Bowie: The Final Act' is more than a biography; it is a study in creative redemption and a humbling lesson in the long arc of an artistic life. It airs on BBC Two, offering a poignant look at an icon's purposeful goodbye and forcing one critic to finally see the star in a brilliant, new light.
