In Alex Cox’s truly inspired portrait of the punk era, the gawky, rather dim-witted Sid Vicious (a perfectly cast Gary Oldman) is hired as the Sex Pistols’ bassist despite being unable to play the bass guitar – to their Machiavellian manager Malcolm McLaren’s utter delight.This snarling yet sympathetic portrait of doomed, drug-addled, downward-spiraling love unfolds between London and New York in the late 70s—with the grit and grime of the music scene gorgeously rendered by master cinematographer Roger Deakins. While both Oldman and Webb were praised for their outstanding performances upon initial release, the film’s bonafide cult status has been solidified by the presence of Courtney Love, Iggy Pop in a brief cameo, and the (alternate) title track “Love Kills” by The Clash’s Joe Strummer.