'Moonage Daydream' is a Psychedelic David Bowie Odyssey

Think of your favorite incarnation of David Bowie. Is it the 70s androgynous alien rock god? The big-suited 80s positivity guru pop star? The darker, more cynical electronica Bowie of the mid-to-late 90s? The anxious, sometimes despairing artist of the 2000s? The introspective creator of the 2010s, looking into the void and facing his own mortality? The documentary Moonage Daydream (which opened in limited release in September 2022) is named for his 1971 song. It offers us a spectacle, a space-age mix-tape voyage through the works of a constantly evolving artist.

This visually stunning but emotionally spare musical exploration of Bowie and his philosophies on life and art values style more than substance – which is not to say that the film is hollow. This is a love letter to a transcendent music deity. The documentary doesn’t aim to be a traditional biography nor a beginner’s introduction to the near-mythological superstar. This is part concert film, thought experiment, music video, and spiritual quest.

Writer/director/editor Brett Morgen is a documentarian with multiple award wins, nominations, and a previous high-profile documentary on Kurt Cobain. Bowie is a cultural icon who made a permanent mark on the landscape in his nearly 50-year career. Morgen presupposes that you are aware of David Bowie’s meteoric stardom and that you love his music. Morgen approaches his film like experiential art, presenting a mesmerizing journey through sights and sound.