The film begins in 1978 in a New York police interrogation room, shortly after Sid has stabbed Nancy to death. After cops ask how the couple met, Sid takes a long drag on his cigarette and begins to answer, as we flashback to Merrie Younge England, 1977: Sid and the Sex Pistols’ lead singer Johnny Rotten (Drew Schofield) decide to visit their friend Linda (Ann Lambton), a dominatrix, who is hanging out with her American friend Nancy, a junkie.
Nancy’s blasé attitude about drugs sex and carefree existence fits in well with the band, and she quickly becomes an official hanger on. Just a few days after meeting, Sid spots Nancy in a pub and follows her when she runs out yelling and crying; another rocker has taken her heroin money. Upset, Nancy scrapes her knuckles against a brick wall. “That looks like it hurts,” Sid says sympathetically. “So does this,” he continues, and brutally slams his head into the brick wall, a gesture which Nancy seems to appreciate. Sid then gives Nancy enough money to buy heroin for both of them. Although Nancy was already a full blown junkie, Sid had never done hard drugs before.
As Sid and Nancy become closer intertwined with each other, so does their insular self-perpetual drug habit. It comes as no surprise that Sid drifts further and further from the band. Desperate to keep Sid clean prior to leaving on a tour of America, the band tells him he can’t bring Nancy along. Sid travels to America alone, but their love continues. Sid’s behavior on tour is as bad as ever, and he’s eventually kicked out of the band. Sid and Nancy go to work on Sid’s solo career—the recreation of Sid’s music video for “My Way,” is one of the most fascinating scenes in the film—until drugs destroy both their lives.
Gary Oldman literally becomes Sid Vicious. Of course, Oldman has spent the last twenty-five years building up an impressive resume, and being able to morph into a variety of troubled characters. However, in 1986, he wasn’t particularly well known and his role as Sid was his breakthrough. He shows tremendous promise as he takes Sid from troubled hoodlum to broken man.
Chloe Webb’s performance as Nancy is just as impressive. Throughout, Nancy is a lying, cheating, foul-mouthed junkie any sane person would avoid at all costs. Somehow though, without ever letting up, or asking for sympathy, Webb lets us see the damaged little girl that was a part of Nancy Spungen.
Sid and Nancy was photographed by Roger Deakins, who has since become one of the industry’s most respected cinematographers. As such amid all the mess and chaos, there are some scenes of poetic beauty, specifically Sid and Nancy’s passionate kiss in an alleyway underneath falling garbage. Sid and Nancy is definitely not a feel good film. However, if you’re a fan of the punk rock era, it’s a definite must see.
Framed in its theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, this 1080p transfer captures the grimy, sordid look of the film rather well. The grays and accompanying pale color palette are as vivid as they can be. Sharpness is quite good, though some blurriness is evident in longer shots. Fleshtones appear natural, and black levels are fine, though not the deepest possible.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix features occasional directionalized dialogue, and while some of the center channel dialogue isn’t always clear, that’s due to the mumbling of the actors in their drug-induced states. Punk rock music fills the soundstage with its throbbing beat and deep bass, though ambient sounds in the clubs aren’t exploited as well in the available channels.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following special features are available:
- For the Love of Punk (SD, 15:46): Friends of Sid and Nancy, as well as movie critic Owen Gleiberman discuss the film, its production, its aesthetic and the movement it depicts.
- Junk Love (SD, 15:30): A discussion about the real Sid and Nancy. Different perspectives emerge, as least regarding Sid, and at least one alternative theory is offered regarding how Nancy died.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:02):
