Glitter [DVD]

Amazon.co.uk Review Set in the mid-1980s against a backdrop of the rising club scene Glitter is the tale of Billie Frank, a modest young singer with a phenomenal talent just hoping to make it big in New York City. Billie (Mariah Carey) hooks up with super-cool club DJ and producer Dice (Max Beesley) and, as you might guess, hits the big time. But as both her lover and producer, Dice is a bit put out by the label's recommendation that Billie finds a more talented producer, while at the same time her girlfriends are telling her to "kick him to the kerb". So that's the basic gist. Throw in an estranged alcoholic mother and the rags-to-riches story is complete, or sadly not as the case might be. Presumably because the story is an old chestnut that everyone involved knows has been roasted a few too many times already the filmmakers thought it wasn't worth bothering with trying to make the plot even vaguely interesting, and it drags for what seems like days. The two leads are likeable characters, though their performances don't make up for the plodding storyline. Mariah is just Mariah--smiling, singing and equally accomplished at both--whereas Beesley is let down by his shocking American accent. If you like the sound of early US Garage and post-disco dance music then Mariah's soundtrack is a winner (although it got slated) but Glitter isn't even one of those films that's so bad it's good. It's just dull. On the DVD: Glitter comes complete with a redundant director's commentary that attempts to explain events requiring no explanation, a cheesy trailer which is very sparkly, plus bog-standard discographies and filmographies of the cast and director.--David Trueman Product Description Pop singer Mariah Carey makes her feature film debut in this rags-to-riches tale of success in the world of entertainment. Billie Frank (Carey) is a talented backing singer looking for a way to break into the big time when she meets Julian Dice (Max Beesley), a DJ who instantly spots her potential and offers to help her achieve her dreams. But after Billie has a hit single, the record company bigwigs take control and push Julian out into the cold, leading the newly-minted star to consider the true cost of fame.