White Diamond

Infobox_Film
name = White Diamond


caption = A Personal Portrait of Kylie Minogue
director = William Baker
producer = Tom Colbourne
Bill Lord, Terry Blamey (Executive Producers)
writer =
starring = Kylie Minogue
William Baker
music = Steve Anderson
cinematography = Justin Murphy (as D.o.P.)
editing = Reg Wrench and Dan Swimer
distributor = EMI Records Ltd.
released = flagicon|UK October 16, 2007
flagicon|Australia October 19
flagicon|New Zealand November 16
flagicon|Spain November 22
runtime = 111 min (approx.) (Director's Cut)
country = UK
AUS
language = English
budget =
website = http://www.kylie.com | amg_id = | imdb_id = 1132195

"White Diamond: A Personal Portrait of Kylie Minogue" is a 2007 documentary film directed and produced by William Baker. "White Diamond" was filmed between August 2006 and March 2007 in both Australia and the United Kingdom and follows Australian pop singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue on the road before and during her resurrected "Showgirl - The Homecoming Tour", cite web | url=http://kylie.com/news/1715201/0 | title="White Diamond in the shops!" | publisher=Kylie.com | accessdate=2008-01-07] originally abandoned halfway through its original 2005 run, in Sydney, when Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Intended as a document of Minogue's return to the stage following her treatment and recovery from cancer, the film also features on-stage and back-stage footage and interviews with a number of Minogue's tour crew, including Baker himself. Minogue's sister Dannii and U2 lead Bono also feature. "For most people, "Neighbours", Michael Hutchence, gold hot pants and cancer equals Kylie," Baker suggests at the beginning of "White Diamond". "I want to rip that surface away." "Willim Baker, as quoted in "White Diamond"]

"White Diamond" is eponymously named after a Minogue track written by Scissor Sisters, also the sole new song performed by her on the "Showgirl - Homecoming" tour. The film opens with a reworked ballad version of the song. Two new recorded tracks, "I'm Hip" and "You Are There", and a previously unheard 2002 Madonna track given to Minogue to record, "Alone Again", are also featured on the soundtrack to the documentary.

Documentary

"On 17th of May, 2005, Kylie Minogue was forced to cancel the Australian leg of her Showgirl tour after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This is the story of her homecoming." - Introductory pre-credits text from "White Diamond".

"White Diamond" started out as Minogue's creative director and close friend William Baker filming her for a personal record, to be used as backstage bonus footage for the "Showgirl Homecoming" tour DVD. They had so much footage by the end of the tour, they decided it would be better suited to a feature-length documentary format. The original plan was to release it direct to DVD, but it was eventually given a single day cinema release in each territory it was released.

Minogue stated that "White Diamond" was "a good way to thank the fans for their support and see where all their good wishes went. This started as quite a humble little project, and in many ways it still is". cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7048346.stm | title="Kylie thanks fans at film launch" | publisher=News.BBC.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-07] She had written on her website earlier in 2007: "I have to admit I was a little nervous to work on such a revealing project and I did pull the plug several times, but due to Willie's persistence it is now almost finished. It gives a great insight into the world of touring and the touring family". [cite web | url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/kylie-minogue-documentary-310507.html | title="Kylie nervous about her documentary" | publisher=Entertainment.OneIndia.In| accessdate=2008-01-07]

Cinema release

"White Diamond" premiered in the UK on October 16, 2007, at all VUE Cinema locations across the country in a one night only event. Minogue attended the premiere at the London Leicester Square VUE Cinema. Minogue, arriving in diamond studded dress and over $1,000,000 in jewellery [cite web | url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22603672-5001026,00.html | title="Kylie sparkles in "White Diamond" | publisher=News.Com.Au | accessdate=2008-01-07] , was joined by her sister Dannii and actor Rupert Everett. Similarly, in Australia there was a one-night only premiere of the film at Village Cinemas on October 19 and in New Zealand at SKYCITY Cinemas on November 16. [cite web | url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00102.htm | title="Kylie Minogue's "White Diamond" At Skycity Cinemas" | publisher=Scoop.co.nz | accessdate=2008-01-07]

DVD release

"White Diamond" was released on DVD, with a 15 rating, on December 10, 2007, in the UK in a 2-Disc package backed with a two hour "Showgirl - Homecoming Tour" concert filmed Minogue's hometown of Melbourne, Australia on December 11, 2006. The DVD also featured bonus footage of both Kylie and Dannii Minogue performing "Kids" in Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on December 16, 2006, and five extra songs filmed in London's Earls Court, on May 6, 2005 during the original "Showgirl - Greatest Hits" tour."White Diamond" DVD credits"] "White Diamond" premiered on UK television on November 25 upfront of its DVD release. [cite web | url=http://www.channel4.com/blogs/page/music?entry=white_diamond_a_personal_portrait | title="Channel 4 music blog: Kylie "White Diamond" | publisher=Channel4.com | accessdate=2008-01-07] The DVD reached number three on the Mexican Top 10 Music DVD Charts, when it was released in February 2008. [ [http://www.mixup.com.mx/mixup/subdept_portada.asp?subdept_id=53000 February 17th 2008] ]

Critical response

Many critics reacted negatively to the documentary, many comparing it to Madonna's 1991 documentary "Truth or Dare". The "Evening Times" felt that Baker was too close to his subject: "We never see Minogue cry, shout, bitch, get tipsy, or maudlin. Anything even remotely resembling a newsworthy moment has clearly been exorcised by either Baker, or Minogue herself." cite web | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article2674666.ece | title="Kylie Minogue’s White Diamond: A new Kylie documentary is unstinting in its bland adoration" | publisher=Entertainment.Times.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-07]

Music credits

Notes & References

External links

* [http://www.kylie.com/ Kylie.com] ; official website