Directed by Julien Temple and screenplay by Terry Johnson from a story by David Bowie, Jazzin’ for Blue Jean is a twenty-minute short film that serves as a promotional video for David Bowie’s single Blue Jean from his much-maligned 1984 album Tonight. The short revolves around a socially-awkward man trying to woo a beautiful young woman by taking her to an exclusive concert as Bowie plays both the socially-awkward man Vic and the singer Screamin’ Lord Byron. Also starring Louise Scott as the young woman. Jazzin’ for Blue Jean is a witty and whimsical short from Julien Temple and David Bowie.
The film is essentially a comedy where this man tries to impress this young woman into taking her to a concert for this pop singer where everything goes wrong. He tries everything from claiming he’s on a list to bad negotiating for tickets where he would eventually meet the singer Screamin’ Lord Byron through an accidental moment in the hopes of winning over this young woman. It’s a short that is very witty which plays into the silliness of 1980s culture from Vic trying to find ways to dress cool only to get advice from his much clean and more fashionable roommate. The script is largely told from Vic’s perspective as someone who is so desperate to be cool but he is such a dork.
Julien Temple’s direction is quite stylish from the usage of crane shots to capture the streets of London as well as how the club looks in a way superstars have to be presented. There are also moments where Temple makes fun of the idea of stardom in the way Screamin’ Lord Byron arrives as if he had partied too much and is quite full of himself. It adds to the ridiculousness of the story where Temple also create some scenes which play into the false worship of pop idols including Bowie himself who music for the film including the song he performs. Temple’s direction also has a unique way some of the comedy is set up as it is done naturally which showcases Bowie’s knack for comedy.
With Louise Scott providing a wonderful performance as the dream girl, it is Bowie’s show as his approach to playing a dork is so fun while his performance as Screamin’ Lord Byron is just as funny for how much of a diva he is. It is Bowie not being afraid to lampoon himself a bit but also make some commentary about 1980s commercialized-pop music which he had been sucked into in the aftermath of the blockbuster success of his 1983 album Let’s Dance.
Jazzin’ for Blue Jean is a fantastic short film from Julien Temple and David Bowie. It’s a short that fans of Bowie will consider as essential despite the fact that it was made in one of his un-creative periods. It’s a film that isn’t just entertaining but also provides as a great tool to promote new music as it’s just Bowie selling himself. In the end, Jazzin’ for Blue Jean is an excellent short film from Julien Temple.
© thevoid99 2016
