They say never meet your heroes. Unfortunately, I’ll never have the chance to meet one of mine. The world changed on January 10, 2016, when the news of David Bowie’s death stunned everyone who knew and loved him. If you listened closely, you could hear the collective gasp from fans worldwide as we sat in disbelief. How could he be gone when, just two days earlier, his 26th studio album – Blackstar – was released? It wasn’t fair. Bowie was one of those rare artists who only got better with time. And now we were to be robbed of what genius he could have contributed in his golden years. Moonage Daydream may be the closest thing we’ll get to having another Bowie experience, and that’s reason enough to consider this documentary a treasure.

Director Brett Morgen’s (The Kid Stays in the Picture, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Jane) kaleidoscopic retrospective of one of the greatest artists of our time is an amalgamation of sight, sound, and spirit. The film premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and more recently, crossed the pond with screenings at TIFF, before opening in theaters last Friday. Unlike a traditional biopic, which can be hard to tonally get right, Moonage Daydream plays like a video collage of rare concert footage, TV talkshow appearances, and behind the scenes moments. It truly is David Bowie like you’ve never seen him before. Plus, this is the only officially sanctioned film from the Bowie estate (which says a lot).

Moonage Daydream is so whimsical that, for a moment, it’s easy to forget Bowie himself isn’t calling the shots behind the lens. Morgen channels his protagonists’ energy and playfulness by breaking the “rules” of traditional documentary storytelling. There is no beginning, middle, or end here. Rather, we jump forward and back in time, onstage and off, creating intimate controlled chaos. Visually, it’s stunning. And sonically, it’s outstanding. Long-time collaborator, friend, and music producer Tony Visconti and Academy Award-winning sound mixer Paul Massey (Bohemian Rhapsody) remixed and translated Bowie’s original stems for theaters in 12.0, 5.0, Atmos, and 7.1/5.1. That’s nerd talk for: see it in an IMAX theater!

Running 2 hours and 15 minutes, Moonage Daydream is the furthest thing from a sleepy affair. Prepare for a full-body adrenaline rush as your mind attempts to wrap around a technicolor explosion of the senses. You don’t have to be a David Bowie fan to appreciate the film either; although there is a high chance you will be converted into one by the end credits. Moonage Daydream is a love letter to a hero who continues to inspire us, even in the afterlife. 

‘Moonage Daydream’ is distributed by NEON. Now playing at the TCL Chinese Theater and AMC theaters.